



V 








THE EAGLElS. 

AN EPIC POEM; 

OR, 

\ 

The causes which led to the War of 1812 

between the United States and Great 

Britain with the principal events 

thereof rhythmically related. 



/ 

BY WILLIAM H. BRYAN. 



St. Louis: 

NIXON- Jones Ptq. Co. 

1897. 






Copyright bt 
William H. Bryan, 

1897. 



THE EAGLEID 



BOOK I. 

THE ARGUMENT. 



The Muse invoked — Cautioned to be candid — Allusion 
to New England apathy — To Southern inefficiency — To 
causes which determined location of capitol — StifEness ol 
John Bull— Sympathy of France — Change in French Gov- 
ernment — The Orders in Council, Berlin and Milan Decrees, 
and wranglings between Britain and Buonaparte — Non- 
importation, non-intercourse, and embargo —Effects of the 
embargo — Its constitutionality tested in the courts — The 
result — Mr. Erskine's earnestness — Superseded by Mr. 
Jackson — Unique methods of both Canning and Buonaparte 
in evincing regard for the Republic — Affair of the Presi- 
dent and Little Belt — Leopard and Chesapeake — Wrangling 
between British Ministers and American Orators — Musings 
of Mr. Madison in the White House. 

Sing, O Muse, with lyre and plectrum in hand, 
Of arms and men in new discovered land: 
Tell after Troy, or ancient Ilium, 
And the coming thence to far Latium, 
Of prowess in race nursed by Liberty 
Worthy of Priam's sons or the Atridae. 

(3) 



4 THE EAGLEID. 

And tho' this a song of bloodiest note, 

And deeds of Mars full high, yet Muse devote 

Here and there to observations civic 

A line, mixed with reflections philosophic, 

And if the Muse invoked aid shall require 

Then, O ye virgins of the tuneful choir — 

Thy classic name Heliconiades — 

Consult not on the Sacred Mount thy ease : 

But be ready, and some one, if she halt 

On doubtful syllable, or be at fault 

In rhythmic exertion on line or verse 

Come quickly down; or her disaster worse — 

On essential beat striking amiss. 

As if the ictus hit not square the arsis, 

Or disconcerted quite, she slips thereon, 

O, then descend in haste all Helicon : 

And let the whole move on by might of Nine: 

Watchful ye of the caesura masculine. 

Yes, from fresh pages in thy storied scroll. 
Tell, truthful Muse, as these thou dost unroll. 
How the original thirteen colonies — 
Harassed and wronged by three old Georges — 
Forming themselves into a real Nation, 
With five new States — theirs by aggregation, 
Waged a second war for independence, 



THE EAGLEID. 5 

And the sword bought right of self-existence : 
Which strained the new born Nation's credit 
And strained the bonds which held States to it ; 
But thro' which it came with new strength and 

hope, 
And courage renewed with kings to cope. 
Tell too, O Muse, thou knowest, with what spleen 
Royalty saw one rise from the thirteen ; 
And how that as Agamemnon Iphigenia, 
John Bull calculated Columbia, 
Had not the god of war, by intervention, 
Baffled him, and balked his dire intention: 
Sending him home — new aggressions to plan 
And various plots against his fellowman. 
Tell too, O Muse, with scriniupa by side, 
How sons of Columbia, thus threatened, died 
On land and sea to avenge the intent. 
And how brave souls for this to Hades went. 
And ships of Albion hauled down their flags, 
Broadsided by these sons, their sails in rags; 
And sinking how their sailors gladly sought 
Salvation from the deep on those they fought — 
Not unwelcome oft such transfer of sail. 
And escape from British cat o' nine tail. 

And mince not. Muse, but low let the lyre 



6 THE EAGLEID. 

Sound here, and with lessen'd native fire, 

Tell of discord, and candidly relate 

Achilles like conduct, and how that State 

Egoism did greatly the war delay 

Till Patroclus slain — or plain truth to say : 

Till the foe in full armor, late coming, 

Pierced the groin of the section sulking ; 

That nearest the North Pole, and near whose ports 

Cods are caught and cured, and where the sports 

Of the common people are by statute defined, 

And the higher classes cultivate the mind. 

Tell too, with like candor, how farther south 
Men showed more valor in the use of mouth 
Than in wielding weapons; and how they let 
The enemy, advancing, in short time get 
Into the Nation's capitol — the heart. 
Or, of the complex system the vital part : 
There such destruction plan, and such havoc — 
Continental Europe, and Asia to shock. 
When shocked themselves they rallied, and blows 

did deal 
Worthy of Revolutionary fire and zeal, — 
Not such deeds by Teucer, or Tydeus' son, 
Oilean Ajax, or Ajax Telamon, 
As then by these sons of America — 



THE EAGLEID. 7 

Whose homes south and west of Columbia — 
That is, the ceded district — ten miles square, 
The gift of two adjacent States, and where 
Had been fixed firmly the government seat — 
(In which transaction Southern sons got beat. 
And got hooked into paying a great debt, 
Owed in the North, out of which they could not get 
Tho* at the time in a quasi, semi-trance — 
Followed too by a system of finance. 
Which they did not want, and bank adjunct 
More odious to these sons than the defunct 
Confederated League rag machine , 
For in such institution clearly seen 
The germs of a Federal growth, which by and by 
Would subvert State importance completely. 
All this conceded for the immense boon 
Of a capitol close by — while in a swoon, 
Or while the high priest Thomas Jefferson 
Lay hypnotized by Alex. Hamilton, 
And the incipient State's Rights party 
Yielded to the influence in sympathy.) 

From the very day that the Republic 
Had claimed to be such, John Bull — splenetic 
Had tried in some way to check her advance, 



8 THE EAGLEID. 

While across the channel his neighbor France 
Towards the new power, in the new world, 
Looked with a smile, and quickly unfurled 
The driving canvas — coming with a treaty 
Of navigation, commerce, and amity; 
But so little in him of courtesy. 
And so far from him a sense of comity, 
That he offered no trade facility — 
Scarcely deigned commercial civilty. 

Such the conduct of th* unnatural Bull, — 
Cross-grained, crusty, crotchety, and full 
Of malice, megrims, and much bile secreted. 
Obstinate, arrogant, and conceited; 
In constant dudgeon raised his broad back. 
And equally protruding his high stomach, — 
In contrast to that of another people 
Who speak a strange language, and the steeple 
Of each church in whose land upholds a symbol 
Making still more a stranger the slim Gaul. 

But soon by a sanguinary wrench — 
Common enough later with the French — 
The king was succeeded by a rational 
Legislative, Constituent, and National — 
One after the other kind of — Assembly; 
All these succeeded by a Directory, 



THE EAGLEID, 



Which in turn succumbed to a First Consul 
Who caused ev'ry thing before to count as null 
And made himself for these forms a substitute ; 
And next all France obliged him to salute — 
First as a budding, then full-blown Emperor : 
Which incivism astounded his neighbor 
Great Britain, and him to circumvent 
An alliance was formed on the continent, 
But not the Emperor by all this alarmed: 
The mere that enemies around him swarmed 
The better he liked it; and as to Britain — 
The isle he would sink his rights to maintain. 
Then did they grapple in conflict prolonged, 
In which other nations on the sea wronged, 
And which long continued hostility 
Evolved new principles in Admiralty, — 
The whole line of coast, from Elbe to Brest, 
John Bull proclaimed by himself possessed — 
So far as trade to the ports was concerned, 
And all neutal vessels were strictly warned 
That commerce with these interdicted, 
The same as if war ships there anchored. 

I am the equal of John Bull and his kin, 
If blockades are good by a bulletin, 
Said Buonaparte, and sufficient thereunto 



10 THE EAGLEID. 

Royal or Imperial pronunciamento : 

Next to a battle I like a bulletin 

And as often have found the latter to win, 

And to the commercial world I publish 

That from this date every port British 

Is blockaded. Done this day at Berlin. 

And if any vessel laden sails therein 

My blockade system is violated, 

And the Emperor himself insulted ! 

Which insult hastens the sure wrath of one 

Not yet by the Oracle declared the son 

Of Jupiter Ammon, or yet his name 

Surpassing in glory, and in war fame 

That of him who fell at Pompey's bleeding base ; 

But if conspiracies 'gainst a Gallic race 

Grow and expand on a globe now girded 

With abominable stories started 

By shopkeepers on a brassy, foggy. 

Spot of the globe, with bare heath, and boggy, 

Like dots and jots thereto united 

(Which wrongful union is yet to be righted). 

Nations will read of fresh French victories 

Not in annals related of wide earth armies 

Since the king-born Macedonian wept. 

Or the king-grown mighty Julian slept. 



THE EAGLEID. 11 

Great Britain then by the Orders in Council 
Notified the world that the true course still 
Was by a confiscation penalty 
To destroy the advantage of neutrality ; 
And from New Archangel to Italy — 
The most southern point and extremity, 
Or wherever British vessels excluded, 
Neutral vessels would be intercepted 
And a punitive fine on all such laid : 
They held fast in port till the last pound paid. 

The Emperor read these orders at Milan ; 
And then proceeded to put under ban, 
Or in new French terms to denationalize. 
Or to designate as fit subjects for prize 
All merchantmen paying such penalty, 
Or submitting to this indignity. 

Thus each port abroad the belligerents did 
seal, 
Either Buonaparte or the British, each in zeal, 
Each other to weaken, and on sea annoy : 
The end, as they knew, neutral trade to destroy. 
To the Republic there remained the coast trade: 
But, this the British dare also invade. 
And, cruising about with audacious beak. 
The Leopard came down on the Chesapeake ; 



12 THE EAGLEID. 

Killing three on board, and wounding eighteen, 
Where from the American shore could be seen 
The foul attack, and the bold impressment, 
Following the brief — scarce real engagement. 

Non-importation, then non-intercourse, 
The Kepublic tried: each found to be worse 
At home than abroad ; what then could she do, 
What, but to hazard a real embargo? 
The same not relished on the northeast coast. 
Where from silent wharves orrinned the ghosts 
Of trade defunct. Where too statesmen 

walked — 
Growling at Congress ; and orators talked 
Of ultimate remedies, in halls open. 
And of some compacts which might be broken I 
And in their excursions, seeking relief, 
They went to an extreme beyond belief: 
Went for an opinion south of Potomac 
Where they found that a State might talk back 
To the Federal head — and more radical 
Even, as in cases not made Federal, 
Of which the State was to judge, there might be 
The extreme, or the head-cracking remedy 
Invoked, the evils threatened to arrest; [best. 
Or the State might act in the way she deemed 



THE EAGLEID. 13 

The people also felt greatly aggrieved, 
And good patriots fully believed 
That it was clearly unconstitutional 
To stop trade for a time so unusual; 
And such the feeling at length at these ports 
That cases were carried into the courts 
For an authentic determination 
As to the right to produce stagnation 
And trade paralysis on the ocean, 
As an experiment, and with the notion 
That a brace of belligerents could thereby 
Be brought to terms, and to say they were 

hungry. 

The Courts had doubts but solved them in favor 
Of the law, and the luckless law-maker : 
The people read part of the syllabus. 
And then went on just the same to discuss 
The legality of such a restriction, — 
And now also the mental condition 
Of the Bench : and probably tenure 
Which life would allow, or whole mind insure. 
At Washington there was hope that French 
decrees 
As to American ships on the high seas 
Would soon be revoked; as well as a wish 



14 THE EAGLEID. 

That the traffic-intermeddling British 
Would be obliged wholly to cancel 
Their presumptuous Orders in Council 
When fully realizing the scarcity 
Resulting from marine inactivity; 
And it seemed to their Minister — Erskine — 
As if negotiations he ought to begin 
In behalf of his half-demented King, 
Or the Prince Regent, for the renewing 
Of the once exceedingly brisk traffic 
With the produce-abounding Republic. 
Therefore, he prepar'd that kind of a treaty. 
Signed, as it should be, at Washington City, 
And for confirmation of the agreement 
Forwarded it straight to his government : 
But, repudiated there, as soon as received, 
They astonished that any should be deceived 
By Mister Erskine in such transaction ! 
And sending over Minister Jackson — 
To tell the Americans they well knew 
That it was not all within the purview 
Of this man Erskine*s powers and duties 
To enter into that class of treaties. 

A little higher the flames fanning 
The dispatches of the Premier — Canning : 



THE EAGLEID. 15 

Who would like to help the Republic let go, 
So he said, of its boomerang embargo ; 
But, he could not touch the Orders in Council, 
Hence his snug feelings most count for nihil. 

Buonaparte would not rescind the decrees, 
He sent word too, but on purpose to please 
A twin Republic I and an old ally — 
Towards which he always felt quite warmly, 
And feeling so, had sold them at half price 
A half a continent, or a huge slice 
Of the boundless basin of the Mississippi — 
Which he'd got from Spain, and held on the sly ! 
The whole sold to himself as first class bottom 

land — 
A million square miles, or so, exclusive of sand. 
And now to further show his close friendship 
He had decreed that each American ship. 
With flag up, should be subject to seizure, — 
Encountering his own on the seas, or 
Stealing out of harbor, if such they saw, 
In contravention of the embargo law. 

A forty-four gun frigate — the President, 

And the Little Belt — sixteen guns — each sent 

Into the other a double broadside I 



16 THE EAGLEID. 

But the crew of one or the other lied : 
For whether the first fire was by th* orders 
Of the American Commodore Kogers, 
Or of Captain Br^ham the British officer 
Could not be established — no wonder — 
When the truth rested in tar testimony 
And their way of telling the tragic story : 
Each saw their comrades on the deck dying 
Before they knew there was to be firing. 

But whether the sixteen-gun sloop did wait, 
That is, the British, for the forty-four frigate 
To begin, or she attack the President, 
The fate of such a bloody incident 
Could not but aggravate the war feeling. 
And hurry two nations to hostile meeting. 

War measures could not long be deferred 
It was evident now to all who heard 
The fiery speeches in Washington City, — 
Sounding forth the Republic's plain duty : 
When trade was cut up in a ruthless way, 
And sneaking ships watched round every bay : 
When a British war-man would take a crew 
From a coasting ship — half a cargo too, 
On pretense British born, or contraband, 
Causing captain or commodore to stand, 



THE EAGLEID. 17 

And jack-tar, or goods of war deliver 
To a petty insolent officer, 
Under the penalty of his check'd vessel 
The number of seized going quick to swell. 
Ought this, would exclaim the loud orator, 
To be longer borne? No, rather real war ; 
And the more so since France has rescinded 
The decrees, which before have hindered. 
As the British have claimed, the annulling 
Of the Orders in Council, — so the news coming 
By the vessels which have sailed very straight : 
On what pretext longer then do they wait? 
Show to us, in response to the orator, 
Said His Majesty's Ministers over the water, 
That the decrees of the usurper in France 
Have been yet annulled. You had a chance, 
When the Fox and twenty other ships lately 
Were allowed by the Court in Admiralty — 
Having been seized and held by our cruisers — 
Time to prove the repeal of those measures. 
Did you do so ? They were condemned on failure ; 
Just as much now such reports premature, 
And in this way your Mister Buonaparte 
Poses before the world as shrewd and smart: 
What you design is to take Canada, 

2 



18 THE EAGLEID. 

Then, get what you can in South America 

And in one way and another to win 

By keeping close to this Jupiter Scapin, 

Who would, if the occasion rose, just as quick 

Overthrow yours as his own Kepublic, 

Whose downfall is demanded by Europe, 

And who has again just dragged the Pope 

To Paris, to sign a new concordat ; 

While your chief ruler, forsooth, a Democrat, 

Is urged to new acts of hostility 

Against the British bulwark of liberty. 

We mean, rejoined the inflamed orator, 
To know no King, Prince, Pope, or Emperor. 
We wish for the past just indemnity, 
And for the future fair security. 
And that our flag shall everywhere protect 
Goods in transport, and persons who expect 
To remain American citizens — 
Home born, or naturalized aliens. 

Thus the war sentiment continued to grow 
Till it was determined a manifesto 
Should be issued ; but before the goose quill 
Had been sharpened, the Orders in Council 
Had been rescinded : but so slow the mail 
The news had not come, nor did it avail, 



THE EAGLEID. 19 

When known, anything towards settlement — 
While the British still practiced impressment, 
And overhauled promiscuous cargoes 
In search of something useful to her foes. 

In these times many things are confusing, 
Said Mister Madison — on events musing : 
John Bull, heretofore so short and chuffy, 
Rescinds his Orders just when we are ready 
For war, and have made proclamation, 
The means guaranteed by a fair taxation — 
The French decrees too ha^e been repealed, 
Tho' how long the fact wholly concealed : 
Done, as it seems now, over a year ago ! 
Strange, that at Paris our Mister Barlow 
Did not learn of it and communicate : 
But here in plain ink the document's date: 
Wonderful man truly this Buonaparte, 
And great the conquering Corsican's art — 
Or what it may be, by which he can juggle 
And throw a whole year back like a cock-shuttle. 
Or bring a year forward if necessary 
To confound and astonish his enemy. 
Joshua, with the sun upon Gibeon 
And the moon in valley of Ajalon 



20 THE EAGLEID. 

Had some such power: but his, limited, 

And for one day its exercise permitted. 

Perhaps his earth-mission to down John Bull ! 

In that case we ought certainly to pull 

On this side of the water in unison. 

And his downfall complete by joint action, 

Yes ! what a helper to us will he be ! 

(Here he struck with descending palm his knee. ) 

I'll wager the best horse at Montpelier 

Against the sorriest runt of a steer 

On John Randolph's Roanoke plantation 

That within a year the British Nation 

Will with every foe for peace be suing 

Glad to escape a total undoing, 

Or with just the bare island, as on that day 

When the Romans carelessly cast it away. 

Yes, on the French throne such a potentate, 

Clay and Calhoun with us, I calculate 

Great Britain soon ranked a third rate power — 

Fourth — or fifth, or perhaps even sixth, if our 

Campaigns come up to the expectation 

Of those who know the strength of this Nation ; 

And if as strong as some suppose on the seas 

We may send our Diomed and Achilles 

To seize on her very palladium. 

And on her ruins write Fuit Ilium, 



BOOK II. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

War declared — Army and navy increased — Henry Dear- 
born commander —Plan of the campaign — Hull's sur- 
render — The Constitution and Guerrere — Constitution and 
Java — Attack of Van Rensellaer on Queenstown — Death 
of Brock — The army takes a stand — Tecumseh and the 
Prophet — The Northvrestern Army marches — Disaster at 
the river Raisin — At Fort Meigs — Death of Col. Dudley — 
Proctor leaves Fort Meigs — Repulsed at Ft. Stevenson — 
Gen. Pike defeats Sheaffe — Perished in an explosion. 

In Anno Domini Eighteen Hundred, 
And to this year twelve others added, — 
Ere the first summer month had reach'd its end 
John Bull was notified that he must attend 
To a war in the Western Hemisphere, 
And to double the tax on his spirits and beer. 

The Republic raised too 'leven millions 
By increased customs on importations ; 
And promptly, by big majority, from ten 
The army increas'd to thirty thousand men, 
Well equipped, and at all points ready 
To co-operate with the remodeled navy, — 

(21) 



22 THE EAGLEID. 

Which before had been long boats, with one 

gun,— 
Ideal navy, and legacy of Jefferson. 

In the dilemma having taken the war horn, 
It appeared certain that Henry Dearborn, 
Of Massachusetts, would be the Commander : 
Tho' that commonwealth declined to send her 
Own militia out. So too Connecticut, 
Having peculiar views, refused to put 
Her own troops under Federal orders, 
Or to have them marched beyond her borders ; 
Assured both that the law fundamental 
Would wholly sustain them in such refusal. 

That such unfortunate exposition 
Should be given to the Constitution 
Was by the President much regretted, 
And he th'ot the same should be better studied 
In that section of the common country 
With less loud talk at the ports of entry. 

The highly approved plan was first of all 
To invade Canada — take Montreal, 
And from that point with little difficulty 
Reduce in short time that whole territory, 
Marching on the east by the Niagara route. 
On the west by a way more roundabout. 



THE EAGLEID. 23 

William Hull, Governor of Michigan, 

On the latter route moved on to Maiden ; 

But finding the place too well fortified 

For his forces to take — when they had tried — 

To Detroit he cautiously returned, 

And from the scouts in a few days learned 

That the British Lion, having filled his maw 

On the provisions at Michillimacinac, 

The garrison there, according to the scout. 

Being allowed unarmed to walk out. 

He was anxious next after this exploit 

To lunch with the Governor at Detroit. 

And soon over the river, at Sandwich, 

Was descried a brisk-moving mass, and which 

Turned out to be the enemy advancing ; 

And next to Detroit the whole seen crossing. 

And soon at the garrison's door did knock. 

The British Commander, General Brock, 

Threatening to let loose his red Indians, 

And the rawest of his Canadians, 

If a complete surrender was long delayed. 

And not long then till this Hull displayed 

The white flag. And twenty-five hundred 

Men marched out, being first numbered. 

To see in front of the fort a less number, 



24 THE EAGLEID. 

Before whom each a musketless prisoner, 
To be held as such, or sent off on parole — 
To tell their neighbors the fate of the whole 
Northwestern Army, and to execrate 
The name of Hull, as by bright fires they sate 
Far into the night, and till Aurora — 
Daughter of the dawn, tinging the East they saw : 
Telling too how Findlay and McArthur 
Stamped the ground, and swore in their wrath, or 
How Cass broke his sword — hurled the fragment. 
Flourished his fists, and broke the Commandment ; 
And how privates the butts of muskets did crack. 
As they brought them to the ground with a 

thwack. 
And outswore the old army in Flanders 
In lashing the meanest of Michiganders ; 
And how mother and child shared in the shock 
When the stout soldiers filed out before Brock. 

There was but one way to wipe out the blot, 
A court-martial said, — Hull should be shot, 
But the sentence not put into execution : 
He having been in the Revolution 
A courageous and firm officer, 
The President excused him in this war. 

Three days after Detroit another Hull — 



THE EAGLEID. 25 

He who on the ocean defied John Bull — 

Cruising off the coast of New Foundland 

Compelled Captain Dacres, amazed, to stand, 

And his Guerriere, with each man and gun. 

Deliver to his stanch Constitution: 

Just thirty minutes Isaac Hull required 

To dress out a British ship from the time he fired. 

In the same waters but few days after, 
The frigate Essex of Captain Porter, 
Attacked the Alert — British sloop-of-war, 
And in eight minutes so shattered her 
That she hauled down the royal colors. 
And surrendered five hundred prisoners. 

Sailing out with his Wasp quarrel to pick, 
Captain Jacob Jones soon found the Frolic, 
And after severe .engagement took her ; 
But a British war-man, coming, shook her. 
But two hours after from Captain Jones' grasp — 
Carrying off Captain, Frolic, and Wasp. 

The good frigate of Commodore Decatur — 
The United States — a week later 
Captured the British Macedonian, 
Off the Azores — coast Brazilian, 
And with her suflicient prize money 
The risk of the attack to justify. 



26 THE EAGLEID. 

The Constitution, which now must have a 
New name — the Ironsides ! — took the Java, 
A stout British ship, doomed her flag to change 
When Commodore Brainbridge got within range. 

It was now determined only one way 
The march to be made in taking Canada, 
And that straight General Von Rensselaer 
From Lewiston to Queenstown should cross over, 
With the New York militia; take this town, 
And then push on for still further renown. 
A detachment got over; and from the dock 
Going on, as ordered, they kill'd General Brock 
And some soldiers, but of their own lost sixty, 
With a hundred wounded; which calamity 
Lost the day, as the boats returning loaded 
With the lifeless soldiers, and the wounded. 
So affected those about to embark 
That they would not do so, tho' urged till dark: 
Across the river too General Sheaffe 
Standing gloomily, and chief after chief 
Of scalp-raising Indians going to and fro, 
Augmented the disrelish for the foe, 
And in time created a marked confusion 
And sudden appeal, to the Constitution : 
They could not, they argued, be compelled 



THE EAGLEID. 27 

To go out of their State — this had been held 

In Massachusetts ; and they insisted 

That for foreign war they had not enlisted ; 

Nor could those in their own States paying taxes 

Be forced into facing the battle-axes 

Of Indians not taxed, unless those Indians 

Should cross the State lines in their invasions. 

To commands and entreaties being deaf 

Those who had crossed the river to Sheaffe 

Were obliged themselves to surrender, 

While the highly enraged Von Eensselaer, 

No longer able to check the outflow 

Of his rising choler, freely let go ! — 

Some say he used words, which tho' in the psalter, 

No divine ever read there in that same order; 

And his soldiers instead of going to Canada, 

Went off for a furlough and a holiday. 

The National Council now lost confidence 
In such kind of troops for attack or defense ; 
And resolved to grant to each recruit 
A larger bounty, then, if he did not shoot. 
Have him shot. Four new ships, two of the line, 
Were to be constructed ; at the same time 
Six sloops and six frigates, which, added 
To the naval strength, would make two hundred 



28 THE EAGLEID. 

Armed vessels of every description 

To meet the thousand vessels of Britain. 

The President sent General Winchester 
To Ohio State to be the commander 
Of her levies and those sent from Kentucky, 
Thinking in this case his choice most lucky. 
But the patriots gathered in the Northwest 
Did not think this appointment the best; 
In fact, it was said, not a man would stir 
When order' d to the field by Winchester, 
Those in this camp, all gentlemen of note 
In their own counties, they put it to vote 
Whom they would recommend for substitution. 
And the choice fell upon William H. Harrison. 
Not a William Hull he ! this they could swear, 
But a soldier who with soldiers would share 
In every danger, and never surrender 
While a ramrod was left or a charge of powder. 
The President in this choice did concur, 
But he hoped they yet might use Winchester 
At the head of a battalion, or brigade, 
Detachment, perhaps, or some kind of aid. 

On the Mad river (which stream has its flow 
To the Miami — thence to th' Ohio : 



THE EAGLEID. 29 

Then by sweeping channel of amplest span 

To mix its waters with the Mexican . * 

Grand gulf — rolled on by the Mississippi, 

Father of Waters, and marital ally 

Of the turbulent and self-proposing, 

Penceful Father-all-the-way-disturbing, 

Bank-filching, broil-enjoying, most unruly, 

Fretful, fickle, bar-menacing, Missouri), 

At the Indian village of Piqua — 

So wise and diligent chroniclers say — 

Was born four decades before the era 

Of which the Muse now sings with such eclat, 

And brought up there, too, by the tribe Shawnee, 

One not surpassed East or West in loyalty 

To his race, nor who felt their wrongs more — 

Sanap, Sachem, or sad Sagamore. 

Tutored in war by those who sent Harmer 

On his hasty retreat, and a little later 

Pursued thro' the wilderness Arthur St. Clair, 

But who again in the field did not care 

To meet the'* Black Snake ''— << Mad Anthony," 

A finished warrior the young Tecumseh. 

On the same day had been born a brother, 

Who was a prophet, seer, or soothsayer. 

These conceived it possible to hold back. 



30 THE EAGLEID. 

As had believed Philip and Pontiac, 

The white encroachers on the hunting grounds, 

And to their rapacity set certain bonds. 

Secretly, the seer, or astute Elkswatawa 
Examined the omens, and there clearly saw — 
That if the wigwam fires were kept burning 
Like vestal fires thro' the day — and till morn- 
ing, 
And to speedy death their dogs devoted, 
The tribes would be at all points supported 
By the Great Spirit, the whites vanquished, 
And of further aggressions all fears banished. 

In the meantime Tecumseh was inciting, 
By eloquent tongue, to a wide uprising 
The scattered tribes, going South, that section 
To arouse to consentaneous action ; 
And preaching everywhere that the time was at 

hand 
When the chased Indian was to make a stand, 
And no farther he towards the setting sun 
Like the buck and the buffalo to be run. 
All this time the Great Father did not slumber. 
But had his eye on the twins, knew the number 
Of red braves enrolled, and their red purpose — 
Reckless of the fate of squaw or papoose. 



THE EAGLEID. 31 

And westward went William H. Harrison, 
Who under mad Anthony Wayne had won, 
Some distinction (more before and since as Ben's 
Son, and grandsire), who forthwith to Vincennes 
Summoned the sachems for a pow-wow, 
And to find out what ailed the red man now. 

Tecumseh came but would sign no treaty, — 
Never yet to one had he been a party ; 
And with open signs of his displeasure, 
And but scant respect for the Great Father, 

Or his son, with his four hundred men 

Left the Council. And to the South again 
Soon went to complete in that far region 
The work with such zeal now entered upon, 
Taking this time the bundle of red sticks ; 
But not he deceiv'd by the chief of the Creeks — 
In his queer style of receiving the emblem, 
Nor by the wily dodges of any of them ; 
And seeing no hope of Indian unity. 
The sole object of his southern journey. 
He departed for Detroit, on the lake, 
And when he had reached there the earth did shake 
As he had foretold, and a thundering sound 
The far off Creeks heard — when he stamped the 
ground. 



32 THE EAGLEID. 

But while the warrior abroad tarried 
Calamity at home was being hurried, 
And before he could get there tlie Prophet — 
Getting his orders from above direct — 
With the pale-faces risked an engagement, 
Supposing that succor unseen would be sent, 
And on the leaf-strewn field of Tippecanoe 
Involved the tribes in an Indian Waterloo. 

Nothing remained now for Tecumseh 
But to blow up the Prophet — epithetically, 
Then sit down and wait till the next year. 
When, by his own prediction, he should hear 
That among themselves the white's war would 

wage. 
In which Christian contest the spoil'd savage 
Might have revenge for his heaped-up wrongs. 
And to ** God save the King " join his war songs. 

From the headquarters on the Scioto 
Winchester, tho' 'twas winter, wasorder'd to go 
With a part of the force there to the lake, 
Detroit and all Michigan to retake 
(The plan now conceived by Harrison. 
Who with his army was to follow on. ) 
From Franklinton, then on to Frenchtown, 
Which on modern Michigan maps is shown 



THE EAGLEID. 33 

As Monroe — thro' mud he march'd. Thence did 

flee 
The British and Indian skulking enemy. 
But the fligiit a ruse, the design to win 
By a sudden return to the Raisin 
Making an attack while over that river 
The forces were led by their commander. 
This they did, and in the confusion — 
These not for defense at all in condition — 
The foe carried out General Winchester, 
And landed him a swordless prisoner. 
And not long after to his soldiers 
Came the General's wish and orders 
For a surrender a massacre to forestall 
Which could not be check'd or controlled at all, 
Not even by Proctor be prevented, 
If once his Indian allies got started, 
And once in battle deeply engaged 
Their savage souls insanely enraged. 

Alas ! that chivalrous Kentuckians, 
Disarmed in this way, should by Indians 
Be tomahawked, tortured, and scalped. 
And dying their persons of clothing stripp'd; 
And the wounded witness flaming torches 
Thrown by savages into the houses 

3 



34 THE EAGLEID. 

Where they had crawled, hoping to share 
In the attention and hospital care; 
And the living — their sufferings mocked — 
Thro* the neighboring towns for a ransom 
hawked. 

General Harrison, as soon as he 
Got his recruits ready, to the Maumee, 
On the route of Winchester made his way, 
And arrived there, without needless delay, 
Marked off the ground, and setting his pegs, 
Erected a fort, which he named Meigs — 
Deeming this due to Eeturn Jonathan, 
Of Quaker descent, but a sound war man. 

Proctor, hearing of this Maumee fort new, 
Came over himself to take there a view ; 
Then bringing his army, built a battery 
On each side the river, as all could see 
With the design Fort Meigs to demolish, 
And set up on the grounds standards British. 

General Clay coming from Kentucky, 
With twelve hundred men, sent Colonel Dudley, 
With eight hundred, one battery to take, 
Colonel Miller at the same time to make, 
On the other side of the river, a sortie 
And in like manner take that battery. 



THE EAGLEID, 35 

The guns were all taken by Dudley's men, 
But, contrary to all orders, they then 
Followed the fugitive to the timber. 
Where from ambush three times their number 
Sprang to the attack — led by Tecumseh, 
Whose short, sharp commands they quick to 

obey. 
In this slaughter three hundred and fifty 
Alone escaped, but not Colonel Dudley, 
Who tried his own men to hold back as soon 
As he saw them start — turni-ng his spontoon 
Against the foremost, and with vigor pushed. 
As to the red man's trap they madly rushed. 
But, he, tho' his own wound he knew mortal. 
Shot the savage whose well-aimed metal 
Shorten'd his own life ere its lethal force 
Could bring him all unconscious from his horse. 

Tecumseh's men going home like cattle 
As was their custom after a battle. 
And many white soldiers off on furlough — 
Without asking oflacer whether or no, 
And not, with his present force, desiring 
To attempt the fort's capture by storming, 
Sending ahead his cannon and powder kegs. 
Proctor left the vicinity of Fort Meigs. 



36 THE EAGLEID. 

His march was next along the Sandusky 
With his regulars and followers dusky; 
And learning that there small the garrison, 
And cut off from General Harrison, 
He resolved Fort Stevenson to attack, — 
A block house, with earthworks, but there a lack 
Of heavy guns for a real solid defense — 
A single six-pounder the sole ordnance. 

Thinking soon to capture Colonel Croghan, 
Proctor the attack from the river began. 
But, little effect on the earthwork seeing 
Fi:om his howitzer, and gunboat firing 
Thro' the night, an assault on the fort 
He ordered next — led by Colonel Short, 
Who amid showers from the sharp-shooters 
Rushed his soldiers up to th' embrasures 
Thro* the trenches — they as fast as bidden, 
Not suspecting the gun just in front hidden. 

<* Give the d d Yankees no quarter,*' 

Shouted Short, who over the water 

Had learned his profession, and how to choose 

Words which an officer of the line should use 

When campaigning in North America, 

And all the extras in the use of jaw. 

Then the six-pounder from th' exposed port-hole 



THE EAGLEID. S7 

Opened fire and in line raked the whole 
Ditch full of oath-encouraged stormers — 
Short's energetic words the last orders 
Ever heard by one hundred and fifty. 
Sounding they fell — on the banks of Sandusky, 
And darkness veiled their eyes, victims they 
Of their General's rash attempt on that day. 

Proctor himself to all who were living 
Gave hasty orders from there to be moving. 
Never before had he seen under the sun 
An oflScer only just past twenty -one 
Who could punish assailants like Croghan — 
Losing himself the while but a single man ; 
And lest the young man should come out with 

the mind 
To seize his stores on the march he left these 

behind. 

On the Ontario Commodore Chauncey, 
His flotilla ready now to launch, he 
Transported Dearborn's army over to York 
From Sackett's Harbor, — the ruler with fork 
He on this lake, or the upheld forked mace 
Which he flourished and shook in John Bull's 

face. 
In making this move it was designed that Pike 



38 THE EAGLEID. 

The enemy at York should suddenly strike. 
The forces having made a good landing 
Attacked General Sheaffe — him defeating. 
But in the very moment of victory 
Pike and one hundred of his army 
Were hurled to immediate destruction — 
Too close they to a magazine explosion — 
And forty of the foe in the vicinity 
Involved likewise in the calamity. 

The army went on taking views of things 
In a town which had its charter from kings, 
Entered at length the Legislative House, 
But brought away nothing except the mace 
Of the Speaker, lying on his desk there, 
And the dried human scalp above his chair I 



BOOK III. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

The Hornet and Peacock — The Chesapeake and Shannon — 
The Argus and Pelican — The Enterprise and Boxer — 
Perry's Victory on Lake Erie — Battle of the Thames — 
Death of Tecumseh — Canada again invaded — Gen. Wil- 
kinson's remarkable expedition — His court-martial and 
resignation. 

Captain Lawrence, with his sloop the Hornet, 
Captain Peake with his Peacock, smiling, met — 
Off South America, where the Peacock 
Hoped of prizes to lay in a large stock. 
In fifteen minutes singals of distress 
Were seen on her deck, in her hold no less 
Than six feet of water, and soon sinking 
Carried down nine Americans, there risking 
Their own lives in attempting to rescue 
A part of the Peacock's perishing crew. 

Lawrence promoted to the Chesapeake — 
An ill-fitted frigate, and her crew weak, 
Or ill-disposed an enemy to attack. 
Not having been paid for a few months back, 

(39) 



40 THE EAGLEID. 

Accepted a challenge from Captain Broke, 
Who could make splinters — in this way he spoke. 
Of the Chesapeake — with his crack Shannon, 
If he would come out on the wide ocean. 
Lawrence came out but to his country's cost. 
In the contest the Chesapeake direly lost 
Half her men wounded, all her officers, 
Captain Broke's crew hauling down her colors. 
«« Don't give up the ship! " Lawrence repeated. 
In his delirium, still undefeated ; 
And his lost vessel yet in his control, 
While was passing away his valiant soul. 

The sloop of war Argus, having on board 
The envoy to France, William H. Crawford, 
Sailed to that country, then in St. George's 

Channel, 
Met the British Pelican — hence a quarrel. 
For William H. Allen of the Argus 
While not seeking at this time a sea fuss, 
As his men were less, and his guns fewer. 
Than those of the ship now drawing nearer, 
Yet did not understand that a captain 
Of an American sloop should fail to maintain 
On that account his country's high honor, 
Therefore, as if all depended on her 



THE EAGLEID. 41 

Action this day, the challenge he took up 
And boldly brought his unequal sloop up. 
Soon after the close engagement began 
The advantage was with the Pelican, 
And in the midst of the fight by his men 
Was taken below their Captain Allen, 
Badly wounded, and unfit to command ; 
And not much longer on the deck did stand 
His noble Lieutenant William H. Watson, 
Sore, wounded in the head. The captain's son 
Took command, till the sloop's surrender 
Cut off the need of American commander; 
On her decks six killed, and seventeen wounded, 
When her uselessness for action completed. 

Lieutenant Burroughs, with the Enterprise, 
Engaged the Boxer — securing a prize 
In forty minutes. Her flag to the mast, 
By her captain's orders, nailed so fast 
That it could not be hauled down, the Briton 
Thinking such an event out of the question. 
But the battle for Burroughs dearly won, 
Himself killed, he on his ship the only one ; 
Many on the Boxer, and her Captain Blythe 
In the bloody conflict losing his life, 
And his body by that of Burroughs buried 



42 TH£ EAOLEID. 

When both of these by the Enterprise carried 

To the coast of Maine at the Sagadahoc 

(Whose enterprise the Bay State tried to block — 

When to the Union she came — a postulant, 

Protesting strong, and alleging a want 

Of respect for her parent, as well as non-age ; 

And offering to show how on every page 

Of her short history the names could be found 

Of felons, and of that class which abound 

In new settlements — sent off from the old 

That society may be safe ; and she so bold 

As to predict that the older States would yet 

In their heart of hearts unceasingly regret 

The cohesion, tho' the object claimed, 

In part, — of rare statesmanship — which aimed 

To preserve a nice balance, and offset with her 

A postulant, pukish, and still blacker). 

Chauncey^s flotilla on Lake Ontario 

Chased here and there ships of Sir James Yeo, 

Who would not stand and engage in fair fight 

But skulked about maneuvering by night. 

On Lake Erie affairs quite different — 

There the British Neptune shook his trident 

And domineered the unsalted sea — 



THE EAGLEID. 4d 

Not in his view craft of an enemy. 

Such then the condition when atPresque Isle 
Sailinor Master Daniel Dobbins laid the keel 

o 

Of the first vessel, using the timber 

Cut on the shore in lieu of dried lumber; 

And soon a fleet was finished, at Erie 

To be launched, consigned to O. Hazzard Perry. 

With nine good vessels, and five hundred men 
To man fifty-four guns, Perry sailed for Maiden. 
But soon was resailing for Put-in-Bay, 
Where he hoped to meet with Captain Barclay ; 
Which he did soon. Receiving the first shot 
From Barclay's flag-ship, the Queen Charlotte, 
Then shot after shot — so well directed 
That in a short time so badly shattered 
Perry's flag ship — the well-named Lawrence — 
That no longer for him she a dependence: 
Her spars in splinters, and each sail a shred 
And all but five seamen killed, or wounded. 

Perry to the Niagara then was rowed 
While the enemy's guns to him showed 
Flashes incessant, and missiles in showers: 
But thro' all came his buff'eting rowers ^ 
To his new flag-ship. Then quickly began 
The real conflict as the Niagara ran, 



44 THE EAGLEID. 

While Perry hoisted where his sailors could see — 
*' Don't Give up the Ship I " — lettered on his 

burgee, 
Followed by his fleet, down the line between — 
The Detroit, Little Belt, and Charlotte Queen, 
On the one side, and close on the other. 
The Lady Prevost, Chippewa, and Hunter. 
From Perry's fleet now larboard, and starboard, 
A destroying fire unceasingly poured: 
Soon the Detroit and Charlotte foul of each other, 
Broadside after broadside received together, 
Till the Detroit, worse shattered, her colors 

struck ; 
And the whole squadron before four o'clock. 
Or in four hours from the time Captain Barclay 
Fired his first shot on that eventful day. 
*' We have met the enemy, and they are Ours 1 " 
Began the dispatch which in a few hours 
Announced this important lake victory 
To General Harrison at Sandusky: 
" Two ships, two brigs, a sloop, and a schooner ! " 
These the one-armed survivor of Trafalgar 
Passed to Perry, who before in fight had not been. 
With sixty guns, and six hundred men: 
While two hundred lifeless on his decks lay. 



THE EAGLEID. 45 

The Commodore himself at Put-in-Bay 
Ninety-six of his own seamen buried. 
And twenty-seven sent away wounded. 

The success on the lake opened the way 
To Detroit to go — thence on to Canada ; 
And two thousand men came from Kentucky 
With their Governor — the veteran Shelby 
To join the volunteers still with Harrison: 
And with these too came Kichard M. Johnson, 
Who an infant in arms knew the savage, 
And at Bryan's Station saw at that age 
The painted devils, skulking, and hoping 
A chance parents to scalp, their babes butchering. 
And who was now ordered, with a detachment, 
To start for Detroit ; then by arrangement 
With Harrison and Shelby to unite, 
And finding Proctor to bring on the fight : 
Proctor, who with Perfidy the same day 
Was littered, so the curious in dates say: 
He the younger and less perfidious, 
But not in history the less hideous 
At any period, or less of obloquy 
Linked with his American memory. 

Johnson's men paused at the dark Raisin 



46 THE EAGLEID. 

To bury the bones of brothers there slain 
In a common grave, in vain the fond wish 
One from another now to distinguish. 

The main army moved on to Maiden 
On transparts embark'd; here Proctor had been, 
But was now gone, his red and white savages 
Having destroyed the stores and storehouses 
Against the protest of one superior 
By nature molded, in caste inferior — 
The ever ready, haughty Tecumseh, 
A brigadier now in the British army — 
They laying waste everything in going, 
At hand, or in wayside fields growing. 
Proctor passed on to the Moravian village — 
Brigadier Tecumseh still in a rage — 
Beyond here, and where the river Thames 
In its winding course a point of land hems 
With a wide morass on the other side — 
A point which wise nature seemed to provide, 
As it looked to Proctor for a victory 
Against his close pursuing enemy 
Should be make a stand, and endeavor 
To improve this providential offer. 
This he did, bringing all to a right-about-face, 
And then on this point proceeded to place 



THE EAGLEID. 47 

His red-coats and red-skins in a position 
Which he th'ot would stump General Harrison. 

Johnson at hand, Harrison took a view 
Of the grounds, well selected, he tbo't too : 
Then in front, between the swamp and river, 
He formed briskly the brigade of Trotter, 
Right in rear the brigades of Chile and King, 
Shelby still to the rear. Then recollecting 
At the last moment with what dexterity 
Mounted men scour the woods of Kentucky, 
He decided to charge in the timber, 
With his gallant troopers, the regular 
British infantry, discernible quite 
By their scarlet garb, and bayonets bright. 

Colonel Johnson, on his large white charger, 
Then to the charore ! To the British much larger 
His appearance than the reality 
When they saw him, and his whole cavalry, 
Crash into the woods ; but began firing, 
And saw at first the horses recoiling. 
But, spurred again, they trampled the enemy, 
And, turned about by their riders, were ready 
For a recharge; but the horsed regulars. 
Amazed at such frontier manceuvers. 
Not a second time such a charge would stand ; 



48 THE EAGLEID. 

They wished they were again in Old England, 
And started at once. Then the horse-taming, 
Always-at-the-foe-dead-sure-aiming, 
Saddle-bred sons of the ground dark and bloody 
Galloped to where their Governor Shelby, 
Fifteen hundred Indians was engaging. 
And where the contest fiercest was raging. 
Never did red men on the battle ground 
Surpass that day — dealing death to the sound 
Of that terrible voice, heard distinctly 
Above the wild clamor — that of Tecumseh ! 
Heard the last time in terror resounding 
Thro' the Thames woods ; the forest refusing 
Fruition of hopes and the fulfillment [bent. 

Of dreams, and race schemes, on which her son 

Hushed now the war cry of Tecumseh, 
By his dead body a hundred and twenty 
Who never again will raise the tomahawk. 
Or follow foe for the bloody scalp-lock. 
The surviving red warriors and braves 
Fearing nothing ahead but shallow graves, 
And hearing no more the voice of their chieftain, 
And seeing no more the face of an Englishman 
From the field soon went — beyond the river — 
Beyond the great swamp, and beyond danger. 



THE EAGLEID. 49 

Proctor perceiving the day to be lost, 
Had left his red allies to take the worst, 
And not wishing to witness the carnage 
Traveled rapidly in his own carriage: 
Which vehicle o'ertaken, he managed, 
While his luggage was being rummaged, 
To 'scape the captors, and put his person 
Out of their reach, and of hostile weapon. 

With honor the victors interred Tecumseh, 
Magnanimous they, as he, in victory. 
Most powerful chief who had arisen 
To dispute with the whites the possession 
Of a soil seen by his red forefathers 
Before Columbus, or his followers. 
Of Indian orators the most eloquent, — 
The wrongs of his race the one argument. 
But whether at the aim of Colonel «Johnson 
His sword and sash he resigned to his son — 
Whom he hoped too would be a great warrior — 
Or, of one on a different colored charger. 
Is still a question of anxious interest, 
And at local points one of sharp contest : 
Those who to Johnson the true aim deny 
Will surely have to show, how on the die 
Of the monument rear'd in the cemetery — 

4 



50 THE EAGLEID. 

At the historic capitol of Kentucky, 
Sculptors observers there have misled, 
And chiseled out of fair honors the dead, 
Who do not there lie, by their chiseling. 
Which shows Johnson doing all the killing. 

It was now the second year of the war 
And no great impression made thus far 
On Canada, nor did it seem that Montreal 
Was likely without more pushing to fall : 
This at Washington a source of chagrin, 
And it was determined now to begin 
A campaign thither which should be in earnest, 
And the General to be in Montreal a guest. 
That this plan might not fail Henry Dearborn 
Gave up the command to James Wilkinson ; 
With eight thousand men Harrison also 
Crossed the lake to Black Eock and Buffalo, 
And from the South came General Hampton 
To Plattsburg, with a force ; from there to push 

on 
With the Army of the East from Champlain 
To join Wilkinson in the new campaign. 

To give to the expedition due eclat. 
And the natives along the route to awe. 



THE BAGLEID. Hi 

The Secretary of War left Washington 
And with signal pomp hastened to Wilkinson, 
The command not intended to be joint, 
But he to give the General a point 
Now and then as the army cautiously 
Moved on the edge of the enemy's country. 
General Wilkinson with him could dispense. 
But they all started along the St. Lawrence 
And for several weeks made good headway; 
Obliged now and then a short time to stay. 
As at Chrysler's Field, the foe to chastise 
For following with too inquisitive eyes. 

Hampton ordered to be at St. Regis, 
Did not reach there, but a letter like this — 
The wretched roads ; and the short provision. 
Reported in the camp of Wilkinson, 
Would render the junction impracticable — 
On the latter account too undesirable ; 
He had already had one smart skirmish 
In the Chateaughay woods with the British. 

Wilkinson's oflScers, when this letter 
Was read in council by their commander, 
Concluded that the campaign for this season 
Was closed ; and at French Mills much discussion. 
When they had gone into winter quarters 



52 THE EAGLEID. 

As to the cause of this, and all such matters: 
Some said Secretary of War Armstrong 
Ought not in person to have gone along, 
But should have staid at the seat of govern- 
ment 
Until somebody here for him had sent; 
Others declared that General Wilkinson 
Was not a fit person for such expedition 
And should have staid in the South where he'd 

friends 
And not in the North try to make amends 
For the past, or to patch up his character — 
Torn all up and down trying to climb with Burr; 
Or to atone for his winks at Miranda 
By getting up a hurrah for Canada. 
At any rate an army could not be led 
By a General carried on a sick bed, — 
They might as well have old Daddy Dearborn 
As one on ambulance always borne ; 
Others not slow to say that Wade Hampton, 
If in the Eevolution he had won 
Any laurels, should have been satisfied 
And not in this war fresh ones to have tried 
On the frontier, where were men much younger. 
Who could stand stumpy roads, cold and hunger ; 



THE EAGLEID. 53 

He should have joined Wilkinson at all hazard 
And ought to be superseded by Izard. 

General Wilkinson spent the winter 
Devising plans by which the Upper 
From Lower Canada to be detached, 
Which when to Washington City dispatched, 
And to the War Secretary submitted 
Were immediately rejected ; 
And from the department came an order 
To send General Brown to Sackett's Harbor, 
Himself on the Plattsburg road to hasten, 
Between the two the foe to fasten. 

At Rouse Point to check the enemy 
Wilkinson erected next a battery ; 
But in a short time his officers seeing 
At La Colle Mill a large force collecting, 
In the aid of Brown to make a diversion 
He marched thither; his Captain MePherson 
Cannonading the fortified storehouse 
Where the foe was lodged, three miles from 

Rouse, 
Using an eighteen, and a twelve-pounder, 
And part of the time a five-inch howitzer. 
The foe from the storehouse making a sortie 
In which were killed a hundred and twenty 



54 THE EAGLEID. 

Of Wilkinson's men, and Captain McPherson 
On the thick stone walls making no impression, 
A retreat was ordered ; but in good order, 
And led in person by the commander, 
General Wilkinson this day marching 
For the last time, whether advancing. 
Or on a retreat ; as an army head 
On the back of war horse, or on cot bed. 

It being now settled that Montreal 
He could never reach, a court-martial 
Sat in his case to find out the reason. 
This never made clear — tho' 'twas not treason, 
The court could not say just how he had erred, 
But from the way the whole country was stirred. 
The President knew there was error somewhere, 
And he concluded with him a big share ; 
Therefore thro' the War Office he directed 
His resignation to be requested. 



BOOK IV. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

War apathy— Activity on the ocean —Ardor of Commodore 
Rogers — The Constitution and the Picton — The La Pique — 
Commodore Porter's success with his Essex — The Nooka- 
heevah episode — Porter's measures explained and de- 
fended — Engagement of the Essex with the Phoebe and 
Cherub at Valparaiso — The President, Hornet, Tom Bow- 
line, and Peacock — The President and Endymion — Hornet 
and Penguin — Plundering on the coast. 

As the Trojan war so nobly begun 
Paused at the wrath of Peleus* son, 
So this war much delayed by Achilles, 
Or a thousand American Pelides, 
Lacking war spirit. But not this apathy 
On the ocean ; there all activity. 
And in this famed year of war, as before, 
Naval acts splendid. And first Commodore 
Rogers returning, with his President, 
From a long, lucky cruise, an engagement 
With three British ships off Sandy Hook 
Tried to provoke, and tho' great pains he took, 

(55) 



56 THE EAGLEID. 

Firing several guns to the windward. 

To show unmistakably what he dared, 

It was in rain ; he could not even get 

Captain Lloyd, of the Plantagenet — 

A seventy-four, the largest and nearest, 

To take notice that he was in earnest ; 

Which silence was taken as tantamount 

To this, that Bull's pluck was now at a discount. 

The Constitution captured the Picton, 
A public schooner, well freighted, then kept on 
Her course, fright' ning a frigate, the La Pique, 
And her Captain Maitland; who did not seek 
Anything after he saw her but an escape — 
Which in the darkness he was able to make — 
From his pursuer after a long chase, 
Subsequently considered in this case 
By the British Board of Admiralty, 
That her Captain had done admirably, 
As in the Board's view not less than two frigates 
Should now engage one of the United States. 

With his Essex from April to October 
That seasoned seaman, Commodore Porter, 
Took twelve armed whale ships in the Pacific, 
One of which, well known as the Atlantic, 
He converted to an American cruiser, 



THE EAGLEID. 57 

And then christened her the Essex Junior ; 
With her Lieutenant Downs ordered to go, 
The prizes in charge, to Valparaiso. 

Returning soon, Downs told the Commodore 
That a British squadron — two sloops of war, 
A frigate, and a storeship of twenty guns, 
Was looking for him and his trusty Downs ! 
The Commodore for some time had been aware 
That his own Essex should go in for repair. 
And he steered for the island Nookaheevah, 
Which, reaching, by a new kind o' sea law, 
He renamed Madison, not intending 
A conquest of course — simply complimenting 
His President, whom he knew would be pleased; 
At the same time the natives would be eased 
In their simple minds, seeing their safety 
The principal object of this seeming hasty 
And apparent strange vessel intrusion. 
But which meant for them a more perfect union, 
As they perceived, and a kind of adoption 
Under the American Constitution, 
Of which they'd often heard, and a copy 
Had longed for, and to know that their Poppy 
Was the same hero who was the Father 
Of that Constitution and would gather 



58 THE EAGLEID. 

Them all under its broad anticipations, 
And claim them likewise as his relations. 

War was now being waged on the island, 
And the tribes urged Porter to take a hand ; 
Not understanding in their simplicity 
What was meant by a strict neutrality, 
And not knowing that by law international 
He could take no part in their tribal quarrel. 
But he did teach one tribe — the Typee, 
Of what type their conduct ought to be 
When a Commodore their place visited 
And was having his ship there refitted. 
First, to impress and win the rude Typees, 
He fired his guns at far off-rocks and trees ; 
Failing in these frequent object lessons, 
He showed them the nature of his weapons, 
Turned straight towards Typean anatomies 
And when for targets slim tattooed bodies. 
Then he burned their villages, nine in number, 
With such good effect on them and the other 
Belligerent tribes, that while he remained 
From hostile attack they not only abstained. 
But in acts of friendship with each other vied ; 
Each wished to be first to see him supplied 
Not only with all the necessaries. 



THE EAGLEID. 59 

But with all Madisonian luxuries. 
And such the harmony which prevailed 
Among all the tribes before he sailed, 
That in looking back the oldest islander 
Such concord before could not reuiember. 

Such the effect of the Constitution, 
When injected, or its direct action 
Administered as a prophylactic, 
In the far-off isles of the South Pacific. 
And such its power from the very day 
That it came forth at Philadelphia, 
With genuine brotherly love innate — 
The overflowing affection of each State 
Incorporated, and abiding closely 
In its Articles, however loosely 
At times they may have been interpreted, 
And the Preamble put for what was intended. 

The British who have no Constitution 
Dear to them at all, but a confusion 
Of ancient acts, and this and that precedent, 
Have had much to say about this incident, 
And seeing in it an annexation 
Have made it the theme of fine declamation. 

If Porter had there a kind of possession 
For a brief time in the name of Madison, 



60 THE EAGLEID. 

Or admit that in this case Uncle Sam 
Did take for once a little strange lamb. 
To hold awhile fondly, and then let go, 
The better for having been handled so, 
Does it lie in the mouth of the Lion 
To condemn such an act by the scion, 
Who came by this grabbing instinct honestly. 
If inheriting a single quality? 
In the mouth of him, who like Ajax insane 
Does not stop till whole flocks at his feet lie slain ; 
Who does not seize one island by itself? 
O ! no, this nothing for his royal pelf: 
But, grabs at sight archipelagoes 
As in his rapacity on he goes, — 
The rising sun around the world greeting. 
From points seized in line, with his drum-beat- 
ing ; 
Burning towns, cities, or nations' capitols; 
Shocking civilized people by horse-stalls 
Put up in churches; and quick to destroy 
Whatever in art refined people enjoy ; 
Then call upon the whole world to witness 
How the younger nation has done amiss, 
And how amazingly his bile has been stirred. 
And how sick he because this has occurred I 



THE EAGLEID. 61 

And amid his groans to make a bugaboo 

Of some wigwams burned — built of bamboo! 

Then ring the changes on the change of name — 

As if a new government meant by the same, 

When the change was required by euphony 

Before everything else, as anybody 

Knows very well who knows how difficult 

On any syllable but the penult 

For Porter's seamen to get the accent — 

Even the oldest and most proficient; 

Which was wrong, and greatly disturbed Porter, 

Who, tho* at no time in his life a professor. 

Had a nice ear; and knew by intuition 

When a syllable was long by position, 

And when short too ; and he could not endure 

One sounded short on his ship — long by nature ; 

And a false accent he so denounced. 

That rather than hear this name mispronounced 

He hit upon the pleasing mutation 

From rough Nookaheevah to smooth Madison. 

To this tropic island the Commodore — 
Who, unlike British captains, seldom swore. 
And never in the presence of the natives 
Let slip loose nouns, or crooked adjectives. 
And always reproved his own officers 



62 THE EAGLEID. 

When they imitated John Bull's swaggerers-^ 
Went on account of the state of his vessel, 
And not for the purpose of seeking a quarrel, 
Any more than pious Eneas to the JStrophades 
But having landed, by the vile Harpies 
Not to be insulted the Trojan voyager, 
As the Harpies found, and in their anger 
Heaped on him maledictions and curses ; 
While naught but benedictions and praises 
Followed the pious Porter, who in crises 
Studied closely how the son of Anchises 
Had acted in similar circumstances, 
Making his way, as he, thro' the untried seas. 
And on the final day, when his hawser 
Had been hauled in, and weighed his anchor, 
The natives would have composed an ode 
To be sung to him, as in canoes they rowed 
Gently on each side the stately Essex, 
(No distinction now between tribe or sex,) 
As she slowly moved to the deep water. 
Had they known how to manage the metre, 
And set it to a tune appropriate 
To express, if such might, the estimate 
Which they now put upon the character 
Of the departing, paternal Porter. 



THE EAGLEID. 63 

And when his sails filled, they still sat watching — 
Long after their oars in silence dropping, 
Till his maintopsail below the horizon 
They saw go. Then each orphan citizen 
In silence back to the island started. 
To be there in a measure comforted 
By the fact that this was now Madison, 
Each childless Typee wishing he had a son 
Whom he might name for the lost Commodore: 
Tho' , now, when he sat down where he still sore — 
Off his guard — would jump with exclamation 
Caught from Porter's cook, or one of that sta- 
tion . 
The Essex now, and the Essex Junior, 
Lieutenant Downs steering close up the latter. 
Sailed into the harbor of Valparaiso, 
At the old Essex's mizzen the motto -— 
' * Free Trade — Sailor' s Rights — God — Our 

Country," 
Nailed in defiance to the bold Phoebe, 
Which with the Cherub, sailed up behind them — 
''British Sailors' Best Rights — Traitors Offend 

Them," 
The motto fixed to the mast of the Phoebe 
By Commodore Hillyar, confident he 



64 THE EAGLEID. 

That with his own ship he both could conquer, 
With a little aid from Captain Tucker. 

The British vessels soon after stood out, 
And for the next six weeks cruised about, 
With their eighty guns and five hundred men. 
Double the number the Essexes had then. 
Commodore Porter would most willingly 
Have engaged either one of them singly, 
And he signaled this by every maneuver, 
And then sent a challenge to Commodore Hillyar. 
But all such endeavors of no avail. 
And discovering that he could outsail 
Either vessel, and the wind blowing fresh. 
With his own Essex he made a dash. 
So as to pass both, to the windward ; 
But struck by a squall was driven backward 
Into a bay — thence into a narrow port, 
Which was, as all knew, a neutral resort. 
And which he supposed Hillyar would respect. 
But, when did Bull's sons such courtesy affect? 
And tho' within pistol shot of the shore. 
Both the Phoebe and Cherub began to pour 
Into his sides a tremendous fire. 
As if pounding a pirate in their ire. 
Commodore Porter not being able 



THE EAGLEID. 65 

To get a spring, as he wished, on his cable, 
So as to bring his broadsides well to bear, 
The Phoebe and Cherub now in the rear. 
He ran out at the stern ports three twelve- 
pounders. 
Managed in such manner by his gunners 
That in half aa hour Commodore Hillyar 
Was compelled to haul off for repair ; 
But soon again on the Essex starboard 
The Cherub appeared, and Phoebe repaired. 
Finding that as these for action drew near. 
None of his guns could be brought to bear. 
The Commodore seeing no other hope 
But in getting under way — cut his rope ; 
But the only sail he could set was his jib. 
And his vessel hit now in every rib 
From the lively fire kept up by the Cherub, 
Which the Phoebe led, as a bear the cub, 
He was obliged again to make the shore ; 
But the wind shifting, drove him more and more 
Upon the galling fire of the Phoebe, 
Which extinguished all hope there might be 
Of saving at all the Senior Essex, 
Burning fore and aft, and her berth decks 
Crowded with wounded. Porter struck colors, 

5 



66 THE EAGLEID. 

Having lost in killed fifty-eight sailors — 
Thirty-one missing, and sixty-six injured ; 
The Phoebe and Cherub but five dead numbered, 
And of the disabled twice as many 
They took, leaving the coast of Chile. 

The Peacock, the Hornet, and President, 
With the Tom Bowline, a store ship, now went 
Out of port, each by herself, observation 
The better to escape — to the ocean. 
The President fell in with a squadron 
And was attacked by the Endymion, 
But in less than two hours from the attack 
The daring Endymion a sad wreck, 
But, knowing it vain to attempt to flee 
The Tenedos, Pomene, and Majestic-razee, 
To save his men, the President's commander 
To the three vessels make a surrender; 
But the Hornet, Tom Bowline, and Peacock, 
Not aware of the President's bad luck, 
Kept on their way, sailing cautiously. 
And with good lookout for the enemy. 
Before arriving at the rendezvous 
The Hornet was observed, and attacked too : 
Captain Dickinson, with his brig Penguin, 



THE EAGLEID. 67 

So anxious at once the action to begin 
That on the first dash he ran his bowsprit 
Between the main and mizzen of the Hornet : 
The rash captain quick killed by a grape-shot, 
The crew of the Penguin, ordered, would not 
Board the Hornet ; therefore the lieutenant, 
Seeing the brig's destruction imminent, 
Surrendered her to Lieutenant Mago 
Of the Hornet, who scuttling the brig did go 
With her crew to the store-ship Tom Bowline, 
To which all the prisoners he did consign. 

By a peculiar British distinction, 
Blockade was in force to the south of Boston, 
And from time to time on the coast a squadron: 
That of Admiral J. Borlace Warren, 
Would hold in its grasp a merchantman tight. 
Or a regular war-ship engage in fight ; 
Or that of Admirals Beresford and Cockburn, 
Would move up a bay, the house of foe burn, 
Shell a town, the inhabitants plunder, 
Carry off plate on a barge or tender. 
Destroy a forge, or a cannon foundry. 
Drive oflf a cow, if they found a dairy. 
Steal a steer, shoot a shoat, decimate a flock 



68 THE EAGLEID. 

Of fat geese or turkeys, break a smoke-house 

lock, 
And if more than usually hungry 
Bravely enter the good housewife's pantry 
Berate both sexes, and slaves encourage, 
Furnished with arms, to insult and pillage. 



BOOK V. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Failure of Russian mediation — New vigor in war prepar- 
ations — Young Cornplanter comes with his Senacas to 
Porter and Swift — Movements on frontier — Fall of Ft. 
Erie — Battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane — Siege of 
Ft. Erie— Siege abandoned and fort blown up —The British 
fleet moves towards Washington — Preparations for de- 
fense — Battle of Bladensburg. 

So little regard for the Bear the Lion 
That it was deemed useless longer to try on 
Him a sometime proffered mediation, 
Or the good offices of the Russian. 
The Lion would do nothing but roar, 
Shake his mane, lash his tail, and call for more 
Blood to be spilled — in wrathful ecstacy 
Scorning all essays at diplomacy, 
And in his frenzy threat'ning to strip 
Every feather from the Eagle, then rip 
Up the back the furry coats, and hide flay 
Of all four-footed prowlers which for one day 
Dared to interfere in his hot disputes, 

(69) 



70 THE EAGLEID. 

Especial caution meant to all Polar brutes. 
Therefore 'twas resolved the war must go on 
Until the Lion would listen to reason, 
And with a new vigor now prosecuted 
With a new army and by new men led. 

The Seneca bred youth, *< Young Corn« 
planter," 
Who, unlike any uncle or ancestor, 
Had taken a complete college course. 
Since which to tribe habits much averse, 
Now under the name of Henry O. Beal 
(Which name was not adopted to conceal 
Any lurking savage instincts, such as 
One might suspect still with the Senecas, 
For he had none) came with his Indians, 
Four hundred in number, tame as lambs, 
And having himself resumed the blanket. 
Each follower brought a bright new musket. 
All these now enlisted with Porter and Swift ; 
Far indeed from their designs once to lift 
The scalps of their defeated enemies. 
Or eat their plucked hearts, as His Majesty's 
Red recruits, or to have wild war dances. 
Or frighten peaceable folks by menaces. 
In accepting these the object to show, 



THE EAGLEID. 71 

Chiefly, how utterly false and hollow 
The pretense of John Bull that the Indian 
Could not in war like any other man 
Be made to behave, and the inanity 
Of Bull's pretensions to humanity. 

These New York Generals — Swift and 
Porter, 
Their State's forces were getting together 
With the intention of quickly joining 
General Brown, on the frontier collecting 
A great force, which with him this time was to go 
To the heart of Canada — without proviso, 
And once engaged, without intermission 
Cover the Can nek with the Constitution. 

General Brown's army getting in motion 
He sent ahead of himself a portion 
Which was to make an attack on Fort Erie, 
Selecting the brigades of Scott and Ripley, 
Which arrived at the fort had singular luck, 
Bringing out at the first fire Captain Bruck 
With two hundred men ; and now soon 
General Scott and Captain To wson 
Advanced again with the artillery 
Of the latter. During the day too Ripley 
And Major Hindman joined their forces, 



72 THE EAGLEID. 

Hindman having with him his field pieces, 
And soon all these in the vicinity, 
As they discovered, of a battery. 
Scott and Ripley determined a trial, 
If, as they surmised, here General Riall, 
Of their forces with his, could they draw 
Him out to the plains of Chippewa. 
Riall came out. And most sanguinary 
The engagement there, the drawn enemy 
Five hundred losing, three hundred his foe; 
RialPs men the first from the field to go. 
Followed by Jessup, Hindman, and Towson, 
Who could not, tho' at their best speed, get on 
As fast as the pursued, who took the direction 
Of the battery, which afforded protection 
When they had gained it, in breath exhausted; 
And the sun descending fast all now rested. 

But when Aurora, the rosy-fingered, 
Who by Tithonus' side too long had lingered, 
Rising, with purple veil, and saffron vest, 
Dispensed her light, speeding from east to west, 
Then were the Generals of both armies 
Briskly stirring, charged with pressing duties: 
Immediately to Riall's relief. 



THE EAGLEID. 73 

Sent by Dmmmond, the Commander-in-chief, 
Came re-enforcements, and himself from Fort 

George ; 
Realizing that now RialTs risks were large, 
And who to threaten the town of Schlosser, 
Up the Niagara — and across her, 
Sent a detachment, with the hope to induce 
General Brown, perplexed, to divide his force. 
Brown also now to divert the enemy 
From his stores and sick, strategically 
Started General Scott, with his brigade. 
Up the Queenstown road, and him to aid 
Sent along, with his big guns, Major Towson ; 
And when, keeping this road, they had gone on 
To where the roar of Niagara very plain. 
And were briskly approaching Lundy's Lane, 
They caught a glimpse again of Riall's force. 
Upon which they hesitated in their course ; 
But starting again a battery opened 
Which their movements greatly quickened. 
But the fire returned by Captain Towson, 
While Scott, with his own brigade, just kept on. 
But soon was opposed by three times his number 
Heretofore well hid by the thick timber. 
For over an hour was the fight kept up, 



74 THE EAGLEID. 

When the foe's left flank by Major Jessup 

Uniquely turned, and reaching thus the rear 

His Captain Ketchara took Riall prisoner. 

And so great the number of prisoners 

Soon taken by all of Jessup's officers 

That his advance was greatly impeded 

By the care of these ; but he succeeded 

In getting them disposed of finally. 

Then turned again upon the enemy, 

And tho' the fire thro' which he moved intense. 

He soon made a rampart of a stone fence. 

Hence poured the hot lead so persistently 

That about dark the British infantry 

Took to the road, pursued by Jessup, their fleet- 

ness 
Shown at quick intervals in the darkness 
By the blaze of his guns ; more prisoners 
Now added to privates and officers. 

Both the Generals, Brown and Drummond, 
Good reinforcements that night summoned 
To the desperate conflict — involviug 
The whole of both armies in the morning; 
Waged now as hotly as the day before. 
And doubtful the issue perhaps, when sore. 
Or badly punished by the foe's ordnance 



THE EAGLEID. 76 

Skillfully planted on an eminence, 
General Ripley asked Colonel Miller 
If he thought he could ascend that hill, or 
High-rising ridge, and take that battery. 
Quoth Colonel Miller, with quick glance of eye : 
Those annoying guns are very high, sir, 
And the ascent steep, but I will try, sir. 
Then with his ardent followers started 
And never once they looked back or halted. 
Till British gunners were going down hill — 
Those who were able, those on the top still 
Lying 'round the guns, some prone, some supine, 
Some moving yet, others making no sign. 
No longer harassed by this battery, 
The whole command of General Ripley 
Charged the enemy, bravely pushing on 
Over the ground Colonel Miller had won. 
Three times the enemy to the attack 
Returned reinforc'd; three times driven back ; 
The third time coming right into the midst 
Of Hindman's guns, that cool artillerist, 
Spiking two of his principal pieces. 
Fought the assailants across the carriasres. 
The horses all killed and no drag ropes 
To be procured, Ripley saw no hopes 



76 THE EAGLEID. 

Of saving the captured artillery — 

The best credentials of his victory. 

The smaller pieces by Major Hindman 

Were rolled down hill. Then he, the last man, 

Collected the wounded, and too came down — 

Such an order, he heard, coming from Brown. 

The next day up the hill went the enemy, 
And standing 'round there claimed a victory 1 
Sending home dispatches, that the defeat 
Of the Americans was here complete I I 

Brown in his dispatches very freely 
Animadverted on General Ripley 
Because early the next day he did not, 
When he himself was wounded, as too Scott, 
His men refreshed, the hill reascend 
And at all hazards the trophies defend. 

But whether with but fifteen hundred men 
Brown would have gone up that hill again. 
Was a question which General Ripley 
Thought should be considered equally 
With his own fault, or failure in duty, 
If of any such he had been guilty; 
He had never heard Brown called a Buonaparte, 
Or th'other man, who were on his face a big 

wart. 



THE EAGLEID. 77 

Such the hard-fought battle of Luudy's 
Lane, 
Or of Bridge water, some say, where were slain, 
Wounded and lost, over seventeen hundred ; 
The number almost equally divided 
Between the two armies ; so near a draw 
This encounter on the Niagara. 

Kipley to Fort Erie next his men moved ; 
This movement General Brown approved, 
But by General Gaines superseded, 
Who supposed himself there more needed. 
Hither, too, with a force of five thousand. 
To contend again came General Drummond, 
W^ho cannonaded the walls for a week. 
And till he thought the works at one point weak, 
And hearing that inside there was confusion 
He made an assault, gaining a bastion. 
But this all he gained, it not expedient 
To go farther — the foremost of his men sent 
High into the air by an explosion ; 
Which disaster gave a lively motion 
To those behind, in a contrary course, 
And to a union again with the force 
Which remained outside : whose condition 
Daily growing worse from indisposition ; 



78 THE EAGLEID. 

And daily the orders there to inter 
Soldiers swept off by the swamp fever. 

Hearing that in the fort's proximity 
Drummond had finished a battery 
In the wilderness, with great secrecy 
A road was quick opened for a sortie 
Under the direction of General Porter, 
Aided by Kipley, Davis and Miller, 
Executed by them so successfully 
That in four hours they had the battery. 
Having lost nine hundred men Drummond 
Then the siege of Fort Erie abandoned. 
Shortly afterwards General Izard, 
The Generalissimo to the northward. 
Arriving, of this famed fort took a view. 
And after some consultation, he blew 
Into a thousand fragments Fort Erie, 
Which his soldiers saw with the highest glee ; 
And all voting now that Canada, 
The whole strip, was not worth having anyway. 
They got over the line expeditiously, 
And into a far different country. 

Having on board Lord Eoss' entire army. 
Admiral Cochrane was sailing directly — 



THE EAGLEID. 79 

It was clear now to all who the fleet saw, 
And kept track of its course from Bermuda, 
Or understood movements nautical — 
To the unwalled, un warlike capitol. 

Methods of defense quick to consider, 
The President sent for each Counsellor 
Of State to come at once ; and soon he met 
In secret council the whole Cabinet. 
It seemed to these, and to the President, 
That at some point, say on the Patuxent, 
Three thousand men should be got into camp, 
While ten thousand militia straight should tramp 
From the States to the Government center. 
To be disciplined by General Winder. 

The plan having secured approbation 
The War Office issued a requisition 
For fifteen thousand men on States adjacent, 
Two-thirds, at least, it was thought would be sent, 
Who with the minute men in the District, 
Would make a force equal to the conflict. 
In Pensylvania too a horse squadron. 
It was reported, could be relied upon. 
Regulars also from North Carolina 
Were to come, and from Barney's flotilla 
His marines, in case — which was much feared 



80 THB EAGLEID. 

Barney's boats should burn when the British 
appeared. 
General Winder directly appealed 
To the States to bring quotas to the field. 
The Maryland Governor was in doubt 
Whether a draft the way to bring men out, 
But after some delay three hundred sent, 
In the place of three thousand, his complement. 
The Governor of Pennsylvania 
Confessed himself hampered by the decay 
Of their militia laws, which would prevent 
A draft in that State, without amendment, 
To order one would subject him to criticism, 
Though he would appeal to the patriotism 
Of his people ; and in time sent a letter, 
Which after several weeks reached Winder, 
Placing at his call the State's proportion 
To be furnished at the people's option. 
At near Baltimore a brigade^fully, 
In command of General Stansbury, 
Was supposed to be at Winder's disposal, 
But there was protest against its removal, 
When it looked as dark, if not still darker 
For that city, while Sir Peter Parker 
Was sailing about — no one could tell where, 



THE EAGLEID. 81 

But more than likely, unless a mere scare, 
His aim toward opulent Baltimore, 
Whose ready defense and safety of more 
Importance to her than that of the city, 
Whose inhabitants to hers one to fifty. 

Five thousand men under General Koss, 
Disembarked at Benedict, marched across 
The peaceful country to within twenty 
Miles of the gates of the capitol city. 
The main fleet with Admiral Cockburn 
Going on up the bay, Barney did burn 
His flotilla, then hastened toward 
General Winder's camp at the Woodyard. 

As if he to bombard Fort Warburton 
Up the Potomac went Captain Gordon 
With his eight sail, and a hundred twenty 
Heavy guns displayed for discharge ready. 

With heavy guns and good stock of powder 
Came Captain Meyers, and Captain McGruder 
From the near counties in Old Virginia; 
And from these two quite a show of militia. 
And some now from Baltimore and Annapolis — 
Such as could be raised for a time like this. 

The whole Woodyard was now in high spirits 
Because of the coming of Colonel Sterritt's 

6 



82 THE EAGLEID. 

Crack regiment. At Bladensburgtoo, all 
Were greatly elated as Major Beall, 
With five hundred stout men they saw come in 
Right where the great battle was to begin, 
As they believed ; and as Winder saw too 
When he could get time to take a clear view 
Of things at all; and thither, the Woody ard. 
He directed, that is, all who had dared — 
Leaving their Lares, Manes, Penates, 
Valueless at such an hour all these — 
To come to his standard, 'round which to die 
To save to an expectant posterity 
The rising city — the selected seat 
Where wise men in council, abstracted, meet. 
And bearing the name of one who had been 
The first in the hearts of his countrymen. 

Between ^yq and six thousand on the ground 
At different points now encamped around. 
And Stansbury's brigade having come to hand, 
Winder felt justified in making a stand. 

Having seen active service years ago, 
It seemed proper that Colonel Monroe, 
Secretary of State, should visit Winder 
On the eve of battle — in no manner 
To examine his plans critically, 



THE EAGLEID. 83 

For the Colonel now of course quite rusty, 
But to offer perhaps some suggestions 
Such as from their apposite relations 
Might be expected, and him to assist 
Some, as Monroe himself an optimist. 

With a rifle battalion late in the day 
Came the late Attorney-General Pinckney ; 
Four thousand enrolled in his command, 
The best marksmen they in all Maryland. 

At midnight the Secretary of State 
Hasten'd to Pinckney to communicate 
The news of the advance of the enemy, 
At the same time advising the Attorney 
To move rapidly and fall in his rear; 
But Pinckney said it did not appear 
From his orders that to any other post 
He was to go than this : moreover the most 
Of his men were sadly in need of repose — 
Many of them now just in their first doze. 

In his great anxiety the President, 
Accompanied by the War Department, 
In the morning joined Colonel Monroe; 
But learning the proximity of the foe. 
And each recalling some put off" duty, 
They all took the road back to the city. 



84 THE EAGLEID. 

Their horses going at so lively a pace 

That the wayside dwellers — supposing a race 

Had been niade up between Mister Madison 

And his Cabinet — to see who had won 

Mounted and followed. Hearing the shouting 

The President and suit, not then knowing, 

But these were Lord Eoss and staff, spurred again, 

While their fleet-footed nags, never till then 

Knowing their own speed fully, made such strides 

That many tho't they would jumpclear their hides. 

While some of those who followed freely bet 

On Madison, more on the Cabinet; 

But all lost who had not staked on Armstrong, 

He coming out ahead the fourth of a furlong. 

Scarce all these safe at the Government seat. 
When Bladensburg heard the British drum-beat; 
And soon saw a crimson column coming — 
With standards full high, and horses prancing. 
Their course now straight up to the battery 
At which point stationed Captain Doherty, 
With his company, supposed for its support — 
But this company not one of that sort. 
They discharged their guns as soon as ordered, 
Then as if another command they'd heard — 
To look out for themselves, and speedily 



THE EAGLEID. 85 

Get a long distance from a battery, 

At which coming such roast- beef-eating hordes — 

They went all directions — dodging the swords, 

And the combined efforts of their Captain 

And Major Pinckney could not form them again : 

Their flight making it now necessary 

To retire the unsupported battery. 

In another instant there was a stampede, 
Caused by rockets, in Stansbury^s brigade. 
In vain likewise the rallying efforts 
Of officers while descending these rockets; 
No attention at all to Stansbury, 
Or Winder either, in their sudden hurry. 

Pinckney's riflemen, and the regiment 
Which Maryland with Sterritt had sent. 
And Burke's artillery ordered to retire. 
Being outflanked, so ardent the desire 
To execute this command speedily 
That this retreat one most disorderly. 
Hearing and obeying the order so quick 
That it looked much more like a panic — 
To those stern officers Burke and Sterritt, 
From the stern view which they each got of it. 

Commodore Barney with an eighteen 
pounder 



86 THE EAGLEID. 

Kept the British busy a while longer; 
But the wagons with the ammunition 
Having been driven off in the confusion, 
And the gun-carriage horses all shot dead — 
The Annapolis militia having too fled ^ — 
The Commodore himself by a sharpshooter 
Badly wounded, and made a prisoner. 
His corps was obliged finally to yield, 
Leaving their hissing hot piece on the field. 

Winder hoped yet by a most desperate 
Hand-to-hand conflict at the city gate, 
Or the threshold, to prevent the fall 
Into the hands of the Huns of the capitol. 
And supposing the brigade of Stansbury 
Was on the Washington road, to rally 
These and some others, he galloped forward ; 
And soon saw the whole army going toward 
Montgomery Court House, like the wind, or 
Flight of belated birds, it seemed to Winder, 
Who, fixed as an equestrian statue. 
Watched the last company fade from view. 

Next directing his course to the city 
He was met by the War Secretary, 
And him of State, who came out in despair — 
Already in the White House a vacant chair. 



THE EAGLEID. 87 

And after holding a brief conference 
Concerning a still possible defense, 
They concluded all such hope to be vain, 
And quite impracticable to maintain 
Now any thing like an opposition 
To the flushed foe, in the condition 
Of their own forces ; and now the archives 
Their anxious concern, and their own lives ; 
And moving in a manner of course hasty. 
All these very soon in a place of safety. 



BOOK VI. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Burning of the public buildings and long bridge at the 
capital — Mutilation of the monument — Captain Dyson 
blows up Ft. Warburton — Alexandria plundered — Defense 
of Baltimore — Sir George Prevost marches to Lake Cham- 
plain — Battle of Plattsburg — Colonel Nichols' proclamation 
In the Southwest — General Jackson starts for Pensacola — 
Quick capitulation — Jackson goes to New Orleans — Puts 
the city in a state of defense — Battle of New Orleans — Com- 
missioners at Ghent — The treaty signed — Singular vision 
of John Bull — Conclusion. 

And now, O honored Muse, faithful Clio, 
Proceed, and tell of deeds which told to Dido 
Would move her heart afresh, and her pity 
Stir anew for a sad, stricken city. 
Yes, honest Muse, to whom the obligation 
Is here acknowledged for the narration 
Of events, in common style called history, 
But with thy aid raised to the dignity 
Of epic consequence, and that loftiness 
Attained by pleasing numbers and proper stress, 
Pause not, but tell now of Bull's infamy, 
(88) 



THE EAGLEID. 89 

Tho* lugubrious, and how that his army 
Of seven hundred men, led by Lord Ross 
Entered the doomed city, he not at loss 
How one building, or a whole block to burn ; 
For by his side rode Admiral Cockburn. 
The unfinished capitol they finished 
By conflagration ; broken and tarnished 
They left its walls, a dismal memento 
Of war at its worst, barbarous war too. 
The Executive Mansion of white free-stone, 
In like style of beauty and taste begun, 
A blackened witness of like barbarity 
They left, the Treasury, too, and Library ; 
These in ruins, with the torch not satisfied 
Until the long Potomac bridge testified 
By its blaze to their determination 
To spare nothing prized by the new Nation. 
But the monument there to mutilate — 
The naval one, raised to perpetuate 
The memory of those who fell at Tripoli, 
The pen in the hand of the figure of history 
Breaking in pieces (which was most fitting 
If their acts thereby could escape recording) — 
Was an exploit worthy the Infidel 
On whose piratical coast the heroes fell. 



90 THE EAGLEID. 

The panic having reached Fort Warburton, 
Now, at the approach of the eight-sail squadron, 
This was blown up by Captain Dyson, 
Which opened the way for Captain Gordon, 
To the ancient town of Alexandria, 
And to the booty which near her docks lay ; 
And who, once there, under contribution 
Laid her stores of every description ; 
Sunken vessels there had to be raised on 
The loud demand of the greedy Gordon ; 
All goods which for ten days before the sack 
Had been hauled away, had to be hauled back, 
And put on ship board by the inhabitants, 
At their own expense, or by their servants. 

Admiral Cochrane had been waiting 
With his fifty vessels for a resailing ; 
And now the army of Koss re-embarked, 
They sailed for Baltimore, the city next marked 
For sack and cinders ; the attack to be joint ; 
Lord Ross to land, and march from North Point; 
While the Admiral with the fleet was to go 
On up the Chesapeake to the Potapsco. 

As soon as Lord Ross got his men on shore, 
He started on the road to Baltimore ; 
At Bear Creek he met General Strieker, 



THE EAGLEID. 91 

And here, too, he saw General Winder. 
Skirmishes took place; first at Long Log Lane, 
And near here Ross' men advantage did gain, 
But at the cost of the life of their General, 
For here a wound which to Lord Ross fatal. 
Strieker seeing a smart diminution 
Of his quotas, to a safer position 
Fell back — and kept backing, till the trenches 
He had reached and the solid defenses. 
Which had been prepared around Baltimore, 
Behind which collected hastily more 
Then ten thousand men, some from Virginia, 
Some from the borders of Pennsylvania, 
And from Maryland far more than a fifth 
Of her grown sons : all under General Smith, 
With numberless State Colonels and Majors. 
Here too, the veteran Commodore Rogers, 
His stout marines a battery planting 
On the eminence near, for the raking 
Of the British, if their presumption 
Should impel them any farther to push on. 

To Admiral Cochrane, and Colonel Brook, 
Who had succeeded Ross, it did not look. 
When they had reconnoitered for a day. 
As if in Baltimore their army could stay 



92 THE EAGLEID. 

As long as in Washington, admitting 

They could get in at all, they not liking 

The view before them, and especially 

Did they squint at that high artillery ; 

And there too was still Major Armistead, 

Who a night and a day had been bombarded, 

Holding his guns all at Fort McHenry, 

Which guarded the sea gate to the city — 

And soon the discomfited Brook and Cochrane 

Got their men on board, and sailed again. 

While the bold Cochrane wasted the sea coast, 
At the orders, he said, of Sir George Prevost, 
Sir George himself marched to Lake Champlain, 
Issuing proclamations to explain 
That his guns and small arms were only meant 
For a kind of makeshift form of Government, 
And if any soldier of His Majesty 
Should on the route anywhere be guilty 
Of trespass in the least on the premises 
Of those not aiding in hostilities. 
Or insult any one of a family — 
Not hurrahing for Scott or Ripley — 
His nose and knees would come into proximity, 
Or on a wooden horse be taught civility. 

Having got Buonaparte as far as Elba 



THE EAGLEID. 93 

On his tortuous route to St. Helena, 
John Bull had more men on the Continent 
Than he could use there, he was confident, 
Even if the Emperor should break away 
From his compulsory, miniature sway, 
And give himself, the Teuton, and Cossack, 
A chase and a tussle to get him back ; 
Therefore, for America he could spare 
Enough to bring Prevost's forces up square 
To a figure like fourteen thousand — 
To be used in the transatlantic land. 

At Plattsburg Captain Downle with his fleet 
Was waiting Sir George and his force to meet, 
In the scheme to seize the line of the Hudson, 
And then with the Sound make a connection. 
Cutting off the ^vq States of New England, 
Supposed ready now to cut the band 
Which held them in a Union as odious 
As the famed unions of Mezentius. 

Finding that Izard had gone with the most 
Of his troops to Erie, Sir George Prevost 
Advanced to Plattsburg, where General McComb 
Had been left with the recruits, and to whom. 
With scarely an organized battalion , 
Was now the defense of this whole region. 



94 THE EAGLEID. 

Sir George marched his troops in two columns, 
Meeting in the woods with some obstructions : 
A broken bridge, or a fallen sapling, 
Laid across the road, which Colonel Appling 
Had caused to be cut, or Major Wool — 
Over which difficult ordnance to pull; 
And especially did Sir George's men growl 
When a full-sized trunk, cut by Captain Sprowl, 
They struck in their way; but at length the town 
They saw before them, and saw coming down 
The Vermont volunteers, fearing no longer 
They would be called back by their Governor, 
But meeting them boldly at the Saranac, 
And at the river's bank keeping them back — 
Making breastworks of torn up bridges, 
And at the fords planting their field-pieces. 

Abreast the line of works on the bay's bank 
And two miles from McComb, on his right flank, 
Lay the American fleet in the morning 
The approach of the British fleet waiting: 
The Eagle, Preble, and Saratoga, 
Fifty-three guns these, the Ticonderoga 
Having seventeen, and anchored in line. 
Ten two-gun galleys, of two-weeks' cut pine. 

At eight o'clock to Commodore Macdonough 



THE EAGLEID. 95 

Returned the lookout boat to let him know 

That the British fleet 'round Cumberland Head, 

With white maintop sails dazzlingly spread, 

On the Captain's breast the medals he had won, 

Fighting gloriously under Lord Nelson, 

Glittering in display, could be seen coming 

This brilliant September Sunday morning : 

Captain Downie, with his Confiance, 

Of thirty-nine guns, in the advance; 

Following this frigate the brig Linnet, 

With her sixteen guns ; close as they could get 

And eager as any for the pinch and rub 

The two 'leven-gun sloops — the Finch and Chub, 

And a whole flock of smaller gun galleys. 

In the wake of these big boats of Downie's. 

Then rose the spirit of America, 
And great bustle on the Saratoga — 
The flag-ship ; and at every mast-head 
The ensigns set ; then on the quarter-deck read 
By the Commodore — while every head bare — 
For an occasion like this one, the prayer 
Appointed once by the Church Anglican 
For all of her faith — British or American. 

And now advanced the British squadron — 
In the only way possible — bows on 



96 THE EAGLEID. 

So admirably had Macdonough 
Moored his vessels and galleys in a row. 

The battle imminent: then the Linnet, 
Approaching closest, dared to begin it 
With a loud broadside, one shot of which struck 
Squarely on the Ticonderoga's deck — 
Knocking the chicken coop into kindling wood, 
Letting out the game cock, which ruffled stood 
On a gun slide, next, crowing defiance 
At the loud Linnet ; and the Confiance, 
Which now advanced within the distance 
Of three hundred yards, and just abreast, 
Of the Saratoga; when in earnest 
The battle began, the mingling fire 
From the raking vessels now one entire 
Sheet of flames presenting to those on shore, 
The Saratoga getting a little more 
Then she gave, and having to stand besides 
The constantly at hand Linnet's broadsides; 
The slaughter among her men terrible, 
And now not a single gun available 
On her engaged side. But when she had winded, 
And by her the Confiance then broadsided. 
Again and again, she a surrender 
Was obliged to make, and soon each a tender; 



THE EAGLEID. 97 

In two hours not a mast to make sail on 
Left standing in the enemy's squadron — 
Ten British galleys there shattered lay ; 
Three at the bottom of Burlington Bay ; 
And along the line the proud colors struck 
On each British frigate, brig, and sloop; 
While triumphantly, from the rigging — 
Whither he had flown, the game cock crowing. 
Of the thousand on vessel and galley 
Eighty-four were slain, with Captain Downie, 
While they did battle, and of wounded men 
The number cared for one hundred and ten. 
Out of eight hundred, the full estimate, 
Macdonough had wounded fifty-eight, 
And fifty-two killed, while a victory 
He won, most important to his country. 

The British shore batteries threw bomb shells, 
Congreve rockets, for a change, then shrapnells, 
From the time the squadrons on the bay met 
Until all were silenced at the sunset ; 
And three times to take the defensive works 
The British rallied in repulsed assaults. 
At dark came the orders to raise the siege. 
And his artillery sent forward, Sir George 
In the atmosphere lurid and hazy 

7 



98 THE EAGLEID. 

Measured eight miles, or as far as Chazey 
Before by McComb it was discovered 
That he was gone. Then by light troops fol- 
lowed, 
His departure at this time made so quick 
That he left behind his wounded and sick, 
But left a letter, in care of the surgeon, 
Requesting for these humane attention, 
And needful treatment by General McComb — 
As for Sir George himself, he was going home. 
He left too provisions, tents, and marquees. 
Ammunition, guns, and great quantities 
Of cannon balls, grape shot, flints and tools; 
A part beneath the ground, or sunk in pools — 
To be dug up, or fished out from year to year 
By the curious inhabitants dwelling near, 
In their idle hours ; exhibited as those lost 
On that disastrous day by Sir George Prevost. 

To shake off the yoke of America, 
Colonel Nichols now from Florida, 
Invited Kentucky and Tennessee, 
And with John Bull t' enjoy true liberty ; 
Louisiana, too, this boon to enjoy, 
If she not too fastidious and coy 



THE EAGLEID. 99 

To accept of these well-meant overtures — 

For her mongrel misfortunes the good cures : 

To this effect issuing proclamation, 

At the same time issuing ammunition 

To a class of people whose propinquity 

Greatly enhanced his temerity ; 

For near him the hair-raising Seminoles 

And run-away negroes on stolen mules, 

Who sallied forth on frequent forays and raids 

From the bosky swamps and everglades. 

Hearing of all this Andrew Jackson did go. 
As was his custom when he heard of a foe, 
With Tennessee's quick ascertained quota, 
In the direction of Pensacola. 
Without going deep into history 
For a precedent, into this country 
Went the aroused Jackson, tho* it was Spain's, 
As subsequently did General Gaines, 
And himself again four years later on, 
Which ingress caused such a fuss with the Don 
Onis, the time when such speedy action, 
And jurisdiction, taken by Jackson — 
When he held that the British Ambrister 
Amply deserved a tight neck-twister, 
As did the other trader — Arbuthnot, 



100 THE EAGLEID. 

Both of whom this immediately got, 
Without the benefit there of clergy, 
Or appeal at all to the mother country. 
With two cannons Jackson the town entered, 
And straight at the fort both these directed, 
Soon silencing a battery in the center ; 
When out with a flag came the Governor, 
And requested that General Jackson 
Should state the terms of capitulation, 
Apologizing for his lack of courtesy — 
Not knowing he was Jackson certainly. 

Ten thousand men, to re-enact the scenes 
Of Washington City at New Orleans, 
Were now on the way, thitiaer transported 
By Admiral Cochrane, who had added 
Thirteen of the line to his forty sail 
At Bermuda. Such news could not fail 
To start General Jackson, then at Mobile, 
To this point likewise, where the public weal 
Seemed to him to demand one whose firmness 
Could certainly insure that quietness 
So essential at such times in a city 
Of mixed population; one, too, gritty; 
One who when scarcely to him waist-high 
Had dared a British officer to defy. 



THE EAGLEID. 101 

And whose prompt activity in a crisis 
Just what needed for a defense like this. 

On his arrival there each patriot 
Eecognized a leader; those who did not 
Were surprised to find how like a Tzar 
A Tennessee citizen in time of war ; 
And those who relied on Habeas Corpus 
Found this not the writ for their purpose, 
And instead of hearing the voice of Judge Hall, 
They heard thunder'd out: '' By the Eternal! '* 

To aid Jackson and in the defense share, 
From Kentucky came General Adair 
With her complement, twenty-five hundred, 
Every regiment and company led 
By Colonels and Captains who had seen service 
In the Northwest — not one a novice. 

Colonel Nichols had tried hard to get 
As his own ally the outlaw, La Fitte, 
With his six hundred Barratarians, 
But to him the side of the Americans 
Seemed to have charm, tho' before he did shun 
These, too, because for his apprehension 
Five hundred dollars had been offered ; 
But now in addition he also proffered 
Important information, which he had got 



102 THE EAGLEID. 

From Colonel Nicholsj while the latter tho't 
He was listening to his propositions — 
When nothing was further from his intentions. 
This Governor Claiborne greatly elated, 
And, when with La Fitte nicely closeted, 
Ho held close to himself the bold buccaneer, 
And with eye beaming whispered in his ear, 
That that five hundred for his apprehension 
Was only intended as a bit of fun I 
And that all classes must now unite 
And for the glorious gulf make a common fight. 
Four thousand Tennesseeans by the water route 
Now joined those who before had come on foot, 
So six thousand men then could be counted 
When these to the others in camp added. 

While very busy Jackson and Claiborne, 
The British landed at the head of Lake Borgne, 
Capturing a port on the Mississippi, 
Nine miles below the coveted city. 
Which would have been theirs could they have 

kept on ; 
But near this point they encountered Jackson, 
With fifteen hundred of his Tennesseans — 
Which settled the question about Orleans 
For that time, and convinced the enemy 



THE EAGLEID. 103 

That the next time it would be economy 
To bring his whole force in a compact body, 
If expecting to take the Crescent City. 

Jackson next a fortification besfan. 
Nearer the threatened city, and which ran 
Well in front, and here for several days 
Could be seen with their carts, barrows and drays, 
As they worked to lively tunes in long rows. 
The cheerful, and oft-cheered city negroes: 
And not one on the line duty did shirk 
Till from bayou to river a big breastwork 
They had thrown up, a thousand yards long 
At all points of suitable width, and strong. 
When he had completed this intrcnchment 
The commander sent a strong detachment 
To the other side of the river — the object 
That approach to the city as well to protect. 

On to such works Sir Edward Pakenham 
Now directed Generals Gibbs, and Kean, 
Each over the plain, which before them lay. 
To push his division in such a way 
That all should move in a solid column. 
And then with their scaling ladders to come 
As solidly right up to the rampart ; 
The reserve in charge of General Lambert. 



104 THE EAGLEID. 

Terribly thinned the columns of each 
When Gibbs and Keau within volley reach : 
Each red coat presenting a distinct mark 
To those aiming from behind the bulwark , 
Those in the rear loading for those in front ; 
Thus twice as often the flash of the flint. 
So continuous at length the stream fatal 
That unheeded the voice of a General, 
The foremost ranks now swept so horribly 
That those out of the death-swath turned to fly; 
Then lifeless fell Sir Edward Pakenham, 
Vainly endeavoring to check each man 
Near him, pressing in a course opposite 
From that in which he directed the fight. 
Upon this, from the rear, Gibbs and Kean 
Pushed forward their columns once again, 
Under the ceaseless discharge of musketry 
And the rolling fire of the artillery. 
But such metal storm no troops could withstand 
Nor for the third time was any command 
Of rallying officer regarded. 
Or would any to such strongholds be led. 
Gibbs and Kean wounded, General Lambert 
Endeavored authority to exert ; 
But finding it useless, sought his marquee. 



THE EAGLEID. 105 

Reflecting in silence there on what he, 
Pakenhara, and the others at the rising 
Of the sun expected, and now at his setting 
The destruction around him ; on the plain 
Two thousand of their soldiers lying slain, 
Or wounded, and his own encampment 
Filled with the moans of those thither sent. 

Had Generals Jackson and Pakenham 
Then known what had been done in Belgium — 
At the city of Ghent, two weeks before, 
Pakenham might have lived many years more; 
And Jackson lived, in profane history. 
And in Tennessee tradition, simply 
As in Indian war a rare strategist, 
And a neutral territory terrorist. 
For, at this City of Ghent, Lord Gambler 
Had been trying for a third of a year, 
With his colleagues, Goldbourne, and Adams — 

Henry, 
To negotiate with the other Adams — Quincy, 
Clay, and Russell — him christened Jonathan, 
Bayard, and Gallatin — each stiff American, 
A treaty of peace. Here having debated, 
And rediscussed, all that related 



106 THE EAGLEID. 

To each other's old Indian allies, 

And the rights of each in the fisheries. 

The navigation of the Mississippi, 

And the Maine and Canada boundary. 

The naval force to be kept on the Lakes, 

And the maintenance of the frontier forts. 

Had at this time, concluded a Convention, — 

Tho' uncertain still what the intention 

Of Great Britain concerning impressment; 

As to other matters discussed, too, silent, 

Or referred to Boards, which in the future 

Were to settle all these at their leisure. 

Perhaps, no need to have there ratified, 

Anything in form, John Bull now satisfied. 

After his close grappling experience. 

That the Kepublic was of consequence; 

And that the plumed Eagle could scream as loud 

As the Lion could roar ; and just as proud 

His position on earth ; and he as able 

To prove his rights by wager of battle. 

The Republic felt, too, he could be trusted. 

Without much of a treaty, he interested 

In saving himself from ever again! 

Making such a mistake as to maintain 

The right of freely overhauling a crew. 



THE EAGLEID. 107 

When he might in the grab get his hands on a few 
Who would make the next three years of his life 
The hottest known since the colonial strife. 

But scarce at Ghent had they signed the 
convention 
When to John Bull a singular vision — 
In which carried forward, or allowed a forecast 
Four-score years ahead ; when to him so fast 
Had grown the Kepublic that he amazed, 
And quite unstrung, as he steadfastly gazed 
At the change in the Western Hemisphere, 
Where the Republic he saw interfere, 
And control the whole : swift to dictate — 
How this Power should straight arbitrate, 
And how that one should grant autonomy, 
Stop bloodshed, and bring all to harmony. 
As he gazed thereat he seemed to know 
All this brought about by James Monroe, 
And his revived doctrine — perfect the mode, 
Tho' not promulged yet in a distinct code ; 
And he tho't all recognized the rule laid down 
By the wise fifth President, whose renown 
Eeserved for a later day enjoyment, 
While peace in the West followed the employment 
Of his pragmatic, practical method, 



108 THE EAGLEID. 

Tho* it all seemed to Bull, transfixed, so odd ; 
But the oddest thing of all that he saw 
As a consequence of the long dormant law 
Was the result caused by Lord Radcliff 
To Lord Salisbury — struck m the midriff 
By a rebound from the holy contrivance — 
Contrived wholly for the Holy Alliance. 
Looking at all this he felt somewhat humbled, 
And to himself something or other mumbled ; 
Then suddenly he cried out: ** Til arbitrate I 
Do anything else !" to postpone the fate 
Which he now saw pictured in the next century, 
Woful indeed to a once proud country, 
And one glance at which turned him pale : 
But, over which generous Muse draw the veil. 

And now both disbanded their great armies; 
Calling into port too their sail-rent navies ; 
Next both quietly turned their attention 
To their industries and their recuperation ; 
And Buonaparte soon to be lodged at Longwood, 
The prospect for peace throughout the world 

was good. 



AN EPITOME 

OF THE PBINCIPLE8 OF THE 

STATE RIGHTS AND 

CONSOLIDATION SCHOOLS, 



AMERICAN REPUBLIC, 



DRAWN FROM THE TENETS OF EACH, WITH ANALYTICAI 
PRECISENESS, AND A CRITICAL REGARD FOR EX- 
ACTNESS IN THE STATEMENT, OF THE 
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE 



FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITY, 



AS TAUGHT BY ONE, AND OF THE DISTINCT RULES OF 

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONSTITUTION, INSISTED 

UPON BY BOTH; NEVER BEFORE ATTEMPTED 

BY ANY PUBLICIST; AND NOW FIRST 

PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC 



BY THE AUTHOR OF THE EAGLEID. 



AN EPITOME 



Acrimonious the logomachy — 
Fearful as that on points of orthodoxy, 
Which followed from the start the adoption 
Of the United States Constitution ; 
And chiefly as to where State powers ended 
And those began — from these segregated; 
And what the degree of permanency 
The f ramers designed for the Confederacy — 
Confederated Republic — or Nation — 
Or what upon taking its new station 
Among the Powers of earth it might be 
Considered, with its grand branches three. 
Indeed, what it was in the aggregate — 
What had become of this or that State 
In the transformation puzzled many 
Who coolly made the matter a study. 

In the creed of one school in politics — 
Deep in the study of State metaphysics, 
Certain powers had been delegated, 

(111) 



112 AN EPITOME. 

Not general, but enumerated ; 

Not grants, with particular powers excepted. 

But grants of particular powers, selected 

From the mass in the several States inherent 

Not now less by Federal increment; 

Or if diminished, but imperceptibly. 

To the purpose that perfect unity 

To foreign nations might be the aspect 

While among themselves they were in fact 

Still full sovereign, and independent — 

The selected powers simply in form lent, 

To be recalled in cases probable, 

To wit, the dangerous and palpable 

Exercise of powers beyond the compact. 

Here too it was the duty of the State to act, 

If opposed, and act with a promptitude 

Which would leave no doubt that Statehood 

Was paramount ; thus by interposing 

Her own power, the evil arresting. 

And if such exercise deliberate, 

That is, intent clear to menace a State, 

Then there might be against the Government 

Single, or consentaneous movement 

On the part of States, in their discretion. 

To forestall the Federal aggression : 



AN EPITOME. 113 

At which point of course practical loyalty 
Would reach the minimum as to authority 
Of a general or central character — 
And the compact be dissolved instanter. 

Those of this creed, too, in the contention 
With rare acumen, drew the distinction ^ 
Between powers proper and necessary 
In the nature of governments generally. 
And those necessary to give sure effect 
To powers which in language direct 
Had been granted to this government — 
Unique — tentative — and without precedent ; 
And not like other governments permitted 
To search general laws for a case which fitted 
Her case now, or to looli into Grotius, 
Or Puffendorf, for something analogous, 
In any kind of an exigency — 
For hers but a limited agency, 
And not in any degree or manner holpen 
By such a research, or by pure reason. 
And being thus a sui generis^ 
Every instruction would go amiss 
Which did not begin and end precisely 
With what the State had granted definitely ; 
And however strong might be the wish 

8 



114 AN EPITOME. 

Something noble or grand to accomplish 

At home or abroad, or the unanimity 

To aid in the cause of humanity, 

If the power could not be discerned — 

Clear enough even to the unlearned — 

The people could only sit down and lament, 

Or supply the defect by an amendment 

To the Constitution ; and without this, 

However great anywhere the distress. 

Not even the Executive could stir 

And a fortiori, of course, neither 

Of the other branches — co-ordinate: 

All bound in the end to a common fate. 

But if the power there unmistakably, 

Always to be watched with keen jealousy, 

But which could not in practice be executed, 

Then to this clear power — enumerated. 

There might be an inferred, or secondary. 

Incidental, invoked, or auxiliary, 

Ancillary like, power supplied ; 

But this incidental, inferred or implied. 

Only upon due consideration 

To be used, must bear such relation 

To the primary, specific, or express 

That the latter would be wholly useless 



AN EPITOME. 115 

Without the former, and at a standstill 

All of the functions — with consequent peril. 

Such lurking powers must be admitted, 

Those of this creed said, if not those keen 

witted 
Gentlemen who sat at Philadelphia 
Had nodded now and then in a kind of a way, 
And had pledged grants in themselves impotent;, 
Which, tho' at the sleepiest place on the Conti- 
nent 
At the time, was not to be presumed at all 
Or charged on evidence dubious or small. 

In the tenets of other doctrinaires. 

Who denounced, what they called, splitting of 
hairs. 

There was such a complete interfusion 

Of State entities that a solid Union 

Had been formed ; the parts inseparable — 

Hardly again even discernible ; 

Miraculous as the birth of Minerva 

This evolution of a supreme law 

From separate States, and from their inter- 
mingling 

Almost as iustaneously springing. 



116 AN EPITOME. 

To the wonder of the old world, a Goddess 
Of new wisdom, with buckler, or Aegis 
Thirteen times enlarged, and a Medusa head 
Which would turn to stone, or strike stone dead 
Those who looked thereat with a State Eights* 

squint 
Or of State supremacy uttered a hint. 
With golden helmet too, and javelin, 
Bearing in hand, — ready to be thrust in 
To any Oilean Ajax, who in her temple 
Should cause a Cassandra to blush or tremble. 
That is, any deceiver, who a State 
Should dare insult, or to her intimate 
That a secondary allegiance 
There might be, or a disobedience 
To the vows voluntarily taken 
When coming, with forethought, to the Union. 

In the view also of these Scholiasts, 
Or Commentators, proper forecasts 
Had been taken by the framers sapient, 
And with the amplest means a Government 
They had equipped for any contingency. 
In any other view how could liberty 
Be preserved at all? or be extended 
To mankind, and their rights defended? 



AN EPITOME. 117 

And what any other Nation could do, 

They argued, this Nation could do too I 

For, they said, had the freest one of all 

Been circumscribed, and made to sing small 

When the loudest notes on earth were demanded, 

And the foes of freedom to be met open-handed? 

If reason in all things why not allowed, 

And analogy too, when the vast crowd 

Of Liberty's sons were hotly engaged — 

At anti-philanthropists justly enraged — 

In saving themselves from anarchy, 

And in saving to others their autonomy. 

Where no essential power expressed 

In the Constitution one must be guessed. 

And from some power there an inference 

Concluded to another ; for instance — 

No power there found for a parent bank. 

Or one of any description — to be frank ; 

But there was the power to borrow money — 

As distinct as the Cap of Liberty 

On the coins themselves, its exercise 

To be in a manner discreet and wise. 

But how could money be borrowed where there 

was none? 
Did the f ramers expect such a thing to be done ? 



118 AN EPITOME. 

And how money enough had, but by a call 

For the moneyed men, with their capital 

To come forward to a point selected — 

The whole there to be accumulated ; 

And how could there be such accumulation 

Without a good bank authorization, 

Or charter, in which outlined its character. 

And that of each large-waisted director? 

They cited, too, another example — 

Where the lack of power still more ample, 

Apparently, but where the condition 

Not as parlous, as the Strict Construction 

Pessimist supposed, or any occasion 

To groan over a seeming omission: 

No power to make a legal tender 

Of any kind of modern paper 

Found there, however fine the texture, 

Or of what plates the nice manufacture. 

But, there the power taxes to levy. 

And to pile them up till very heavy ; 

And how could the people these taxes pay 

When the coin, by the sordid, carted away? 

How, unless the Government came to their aid, 

And put out the paper, by which these paid ? 



AN EPITOME. il9 

The framers, too, in the Revolution, 
Had done this freely, in such condition, 
Which fact indeed they must have forgotten 
Unless they designed, as seems clearly proven, 
Under the specific grant of taxation 
To afford needful relief to the Nation. 

Here also the general welfare clause, 
Of the Preamble, the clear basis of laws 
Which in the instrument no other basis 
Could find at all, but which in a crisis 
Must rest somewhere — or else like a vagrant 
Be chased up and down — repulsive to each grant 
Which belonged there legitimately. 
And recognized by all equally; 
To all such this clause a refuge proposed 
When in seeking a resting-place, opposed 
By each stiff article, and bluff section, 
And in trying times here full protection ; 
For that would indeed be a scrimp'd and bare 
System, which when the general welfare 
Required action, off-hand and speedy, 
Could not under a year or so get ready. 
Or make a move in any direction 
Until after a vote, and an election ; 



120 



AN EPITOME. 



And could not then appropriate a shilling 
Unless three-fourths of the States were willing, 
Thus on a right ratiocination, 
Tho* seemingly cramped, really this Nation 
Has as large discretion as any on earth, 
And has had from the very day of its birth. 




WICKED WINDS 



OR 



THE ^RIAL ASSAILANTS OF ST. LOUIS, 

l^Ji^lZr 27, 1897. 



A mighty stream, iii Boreal regions born, 
Pours on to destined end — at far Balize ; 
Its wayward current ever seeking soil 
To roll o'er ample bed, reshift and sift — 
The clay to mingle with itself, and lend hue — 
The sand to send in piles, pilots to plague. 

By this Father of Waters sits a city, great 
Thro' traffic on its zone-traversing tide — 
Steam tamed to burdens unsurpassed on globe, 
In spite of sawyers, snags, and trees new plunged, 
Drifts in channel — the pious captain's dread. 
And bars impassable, but by capstan's aid ; 
Of golden cast its wavelets — seen in sun, 
Substantial gold, true-minted, the returns 
Lavished at levee — from all landings gleaned. 

(121) 



122 WICKED WINDS. 

Such city saw one Ember day in May 
Apollo — Light of Day — or Hyperion — 
Phoebus, or by what name to mortals known, 
On gilded axle to zenith cloudless mount ; 
But when to earth he slop'd his westering wheels 
Saw darkness wrapping charioteer and steeds — 
Increasing as he urged them with the lash ; 
Jupiter thundered, as when this Sun-god, 

pressed. 
Sat Phaeton, Clymene's rash son, in seat 
Where skill of dubious sire alone could keep 
The fiery coursers true, and plunge prevent — 
Involving skies and earth in blazing rain. 

Transitions ominous in upper air 
Terrestial terrors ^rouse and sudden dread — 
Heightened by a noon-tide summer's stillness — 
Portentous, the nether air pervading; 
Candent bolts from clouds chaotic shot 
Eeveal their blackness and dense magnitude — 
Circling, and concentrating in approach. 
With vollied rain and hail in mixed outpour. 
And now the winds, as if by demons dared, 
Aerial efforts in swiftness to outdo. 
While Eolus sleeps — by fellow-demons drugged ; 
Or as the adversary of mankind — 



WICKED WINDS. 123 

Hurled headlong flaming — made rapid flight 
Towards peopled earth, revenge to seek 
For aims anarchic in Heaven foiled, 
So they, as if at Heaven quick incensed. 
With black resentment charged, earth-ward de- 
scend. 
Typhon-like shrieks proclaim their mad resolve, 
As easterly they move towards city marked. 
And in their midst the crowned phantom — Death, 
With tiger roar of voice — hope-quelling sound. 
In wild gyrations nearer they come aslant, 
Closer to earth at each earth-awing sweep ; 
Now on sanctuaries riving towers, 
Now dropping lower, rend^a cottage roof. 
Tear out the front or side of mansion strong, 
Or leave the whole a funereal pile 
Above remains of those whose sacred home 
Pledged safety, denied the wanderer — 
His peril on the water and on land 
In Litany remembered week by week. 

In favorite grove, where <* Old Bullion " 
stands. 
In classic stone, — not as in life erect. 
But with bowed head, as if he would implore 
Armed Vandals of the air to spare the spot 



124 WICKED WINDS, 

Where friend of Washington in memory dwells, 
And himself present — denizened in art, 
They lay about, as tho' Cyclops' whole race 
In eyeless agony had wreaked vengeance here. 
And giant rage assuaged. They tarry not: 
Blind fury fills the air with fatal shafts, 
And fills up graves where life not yet extinct. 
With horrid crash roofs, walls and floors sink . 
To cellars — now sepulchers and charnal vaults. 

Upstarting a dweller o'er threshold leaps, 
Shuddering, as he turns, scarce safe, and sees 
Stones, bricks, beams and loosen'd pillars fall; 
Then hatless and houseless uncertain starts, 
And disappears in shower of shingles ript. 
Sheeting, sash, glass, slate and shutters wrench'd. 

Block after block they strike, with senseless 
aim ; 
The honest toiler, under girder crushed, 
Groans out his life — the idler in alley 'scapes; 
The fleeing tenant, struck by tree uptorn. 
Or salient timber, tortured lies — and dies ; 
The life-snatching wire his neighbor at first touch 
Leaves a corpse. Parents and children handed fly 
From home — no longer home, but hideous heap. 
Where buried all that graced or hallowed home. 



WICKED WINDS. 125 

Here, vehicles shattered lie in street shut 

off-- 
Strewn with fragments foreign and ravage close ; 
There, horses mangled — tangled in toils 
Of harness half stript, or fast 'twixt poles and 

trunks. 
Then, with impulse lent to cannon balls, 
Of mightiest caliber the guns, they scathe 
Firm-buttressed walls, and jar foundations 
Fixed as quarry rock in primeval bed. 

For scores of blocks no stay in ruthless 

course, 
Or fear of river god — the river reached. 
They knock his craft as Jove that of Ulysses — 
Supernal wrath incurred by impious crew — 
And in whirling clash from shore to shore toss 
The deckless keels, or sink them fathoms deep; 
Then with like frenzy far from moorings drive 
0*er 'stonished flood its stately carriers — 
The boatman's pride — and in colliding dash 
Convert to drifting, rolling derelicts. 

And now, too, lest bridge architects should 

boast 
Their art superior to th' elements — 
Ethereal nursed — errant in boundless space. 



126 WICKED WINDS. 

As well as to those which on earth's surface 

creep — 
(And on to vast expanse, clinging thereto, 
In spite of lunar efforts thence to raise 
To exploits, and world 'larming, erratic moves, 
Worthy of old earth, and pristine renown) — 
In mocking mood from east end of Eads 
They sweep ton-weight stones, as in gentle freak. 
Passing some wood, twigs from lifeless trees. 

Then for many a league on prairies play, 
Havoc their sport, and their diversion ruin, 
Mingling the ravaged landscape with the skies, 
Till weary of waste, and ensanguined wreck. 
And diabolic revelry prolonged, 
With Parthian blasts they seek their realms 

afar — 
To man unknown, but not to rest he knows. 
Frail man's abode forever by them menaced, 
And lawless agencies akin — the offspring 
Of untamed energies in a universe 
Not understood by him, or secret ways 
Of emissaries innumerable, 
Which day and night for his destruction wait. 



C 32 89 '^ 







^^..4^ ' 




















^^<^' 

s^. 


















ECKMAN 

iDERY INC. 

^ DEC 88 




.<^' 











